Bollywood reacts to Rahul's 'jaadu ki jhappi' to Modi
Mumbai, July 21 : Congress President Rahul Gandhi's 'jaadu ki jhappi' moment with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the parliament drew mixed reactions from the Indian film fraternity, who found the "theatrics" worth a comment or two.
Filmmaker Ananth Mahadevan tweeted: "No wonder Indian theatre audience is diminishing. We are no match for Parliament performances."
Gandhi on Friday surprised the Lok Sabha when after bitterly criticising the BJP-led government during the no-confidence motion, he walked across and hugged an unwilling Modi. To top that, he also winked as he looked at a party colleague -- reminding the Twitter world of actress Priya Prakash Warrier who became a 'national trend' with her mischievous smile and wink in a song from Malayalam film "Oru Adaar Love".
"Wink! Wink! Hug! Hug! Nudge! Nudge! More Jaadu ki jhappi please," Shobhaa De, who then called Gandhi's gesture the "hug of the decade".
"What a jhappi, Rahul! Hope it works its jaadu on recipient. Who's next on the hug fest? Just shows hugs are not the PM's monopoly," De said, pointing at Modi's knack for hugging world leaders.
While displeased Speaker Sumitra Mahajan underlined that the code of conduct inside the House did not approve of Gandhi's behaviour, some Bollywood celebrities questioned what was odd.
Filmmaker Vinod Kapri tweeted: "Hugging and spreading love is against the spirit of parliament norms? Surprised!"
Composer Vishal Dadlani wrote: "What's childish about a hug? It was sorta sweet, actually. BJP should accept it with grace and perhaps send some love back, instead of being negative and churlish. Also, it would be more becoming of the government to answer each point Rahul made pre-hug. That's what we want to hear."
Ad filmmaker Ram Subramanian said the problem with the hug was that it was a "a forced one" and sent "the wrong message".
Actor Ranvir Shorey wasn't happy with Gandhi's hug to Modi either.
"ROFL! Just what India needs. Another privileged and entitled brat giving out 'jaadu ki jhappis' when cornered," tweeted Ranvir, who was also upset about how the media for pegging the no-confidence motion on Gandhi's hug "instead of holding him responsible for turning parliament into a theatre".
"Parliament: The only place where one hugs people one has no confidence in," Ranvir quipped further.
For TV tsarina Ekta Kapoor, known for some of the most dramatic shows on the Indian small screen, "Hug it out is the new sort it out" after Gandhi's act.
Actor Rajkummar Rao thought July 20 could officially be made "Hug Day".
Today is official,”Hug day.” ??
— Rajkummar Rao (@RajkummarRao) July 20, 2018
Hug it out is the new sort it out
— Ekta Kapoor (@ektaravikapoor) July 21, 2018
What's childish about a hug? It was sorta sweet, actually. BJP should accept it with grace & perhaps send some love back, instead of being negative and churlish. Also, it would be more becoming of the govt. to answer each point Rahul made pre-hug. That's what we want to hear. https://t.co/Bl2gM8osPI
— VISHAL DADLANI (@VishalDadlani) July 20, 2018
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Ladakh a living land of dharma for centuries: Amit Shah
Leh/Jammu (PTI): Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Friday described the return of sacred relics of Lord Buddha to Ladakh after 75 years as a "historic reunion" and said that the Union Territory has remained a "living land of dharma", preserving and nurturing Buddhist knowledge for centuries.
Stressing the relevance of Buddha's teachings in modern times, Shah said the message of peace, compassion and the middle path was even more important today than it was 2,500 years ago.
"Ladakh has been a living land of dharma for centuries. When the Dalai Lama comes here, he says this land is not merely a geographical land but a living laboratory of Buddhist culture and compassion," Shah said, speaking after the inauguration of the sacred holy relics exposition of Tathagata Buddha and the 2569th Buddha Purnima celebrations at Jivetsal in Leh during his two-day visit to Ladakh.
Calling Ladakh a land of compassion, he said this land has preserved and nurtured knowledge. "Whenever Buddhism faced crises, this land worked to protect the teachings of Buddha. And when peace returned, it helped to expand and carry forward that preserved wisdom," he added.
"Unless one internalises knowledge and makes it a part of oneself, liberation is not possible. Knowledge is incomplete without spiritual practice, while spiritual practice without knowledge is blind. Therefore, the union of spiritual practice and knowledge is the right path. Even after all this, if there is no moral discipline, one cannot lead a truly wise life. The basis of a life of wisdom is moral discipline," he said.
Shah said it was through Ladakh and adjoining routes that the teachings of Tathagata Buddha, which originated in India, spread to China and several other countries.
"The message that emerged from the land of Ladakh has become a guiding force for many people around the world to take their lives forward. The presence of these sacred relics in Ladakh reminds us that India's civilisation has, for thousands of years, given the message of peace and coexistence," he said.
He said that in a diverse region like Ladakh and Kargil, this message becomes even more relevant. "This heritage still tells us today that amidst conflict and unrest, only the path of peace and compassion can provide solutions."
He said the return of the relics on Buddha Purnima had enhanced the significance of the festival for the people of Ladakh.
"These sacred relics have come to Ladakh after 75 years. It is as if Buddha himself is present here today," Shah said, adding that followers of Buddhism and people of other faiths in Ladakh and Kargil would draw spiritual energy from the relics.
Highlighting Ladakh's role in the spread of Buddhism, Shah said Kashmir was once an ancient centre of Buddhist studies, Mahayana philosophy and Buddhist art, from where Ladakh first came into close contact with Buddhism.
He said Emperor Ashoka's envoys laid the foundation of Buddhist influence in Ladakh through Kashmir and Gandhara, while Mahayana Buddhism expanded in the region during the Kushan period between the first and third centuries CE.
The Silk Route linking Kashmir, Leh, Yarkand, Khotan and Tibet became a channel not only for trade but also for ideas, monks, manuscripts and artistic traditions, Shah said.
He added that later, Tibetan influence between the seventh and tenth centuries further enriched Ladakh through Mahayana and Vajrayana traditions.
Stressing the relevance of Buddha's teachings in modern times, Shah said the message of peace, compassion and the middle path was even more important today than it was 2,500 years ago.
"Amid conflict and unrest, only the path of peace and compassion can provide solutions," he said.
Shah also appealed to the Ladakh administration to ensure complete arrangements so that followers of all faiths, especially Buddhists, could visit and pay obeisance to the relics.
#WATCH लेह, लद्दाख: केंद्रीय गृह मंत्री अमित शाह ने कहा, "जब दलाई लामा यहां आते हैं तो वे कहते हैं कि यह भूमि केवल भौगोलिक भूमि नहीं है। यह भूमि बौद्ध संस्कृति और करुणा की जीवंत प्रयोगशाला है। इस भूमि पर ज्ञान का संरक्षण हुआ है... भारत की सभ्यता हजारों वर्षों से शांति का संदेश… https://t.co/2nwG0w2CE6 pic.twitter.com/W13itRBqeX
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