You May Call Me Pappu, I Don't Hate You': Rahul Gandhi Hug Startles PM
You may call me Pappu, but I don't hate you,' Rahul Gandhi said, looking directly at Prime Minister Narendra Modi and then walking across to embrace him. It may not have been the 'earthquake' he had promised once, but the Congress president's jaw-dropping gesture during the no-confidence motion debate in parliament came close to it, many lawmakers said. Speaker Sumitra Mahajan did not approve and admonished Rahul Gandhi.In his sharpest attack on the Prime Minister on subjects ranging from the Rafale deal to GST (Goods and Services Tax), demonetisation and foreign policy, Rahul Gandhi had said repeatedly: 'You can't look me in the eye.' The PM, sitting directly across, smiled. Then came the twist.

'You can abuse me, you can call me Pappu, but I don't have a speck of hatred against you. I will take out this hatred out of you and turn it into love. I am the Congress,' said Mr Gandhi, making an astonishing reference to the pejorative rivals use for him.

He left his seat, strode across the floor and wrapped his arms awkwardly around the prime minister, who looked startled. Known for his bear-hugs for world leaders, PM Modi froze in his seat..