Rahul Gandhi had no disrespect, was translating difficult Hindi words on his phone: Congress

After receiving widespread backlash for party chief Rahul Gandhi's phone browsing during half of President Ram Nath Kovind's address in Parliament, the Congress on Thursday justified his behaviour, saying that the Gandhi scion had no disrespect on his part and was trying to translate "difficult Hindi words which weren't heard properly".

Addressing the media on President's speech, Congress spokesperson Anand Sharma also alleged that if the entire footage of the Parliament session came to light half of the BJP president would be seen talking to each other.

"He (Rahul Gandhi) was listening to whatever was necessary. There were queries, certain difficult Hindi words which weren't heard properly. There was no disrespect on his part. I think it is very frivolous of the party to make such a comment. If the footage is taken half of the BJP president will be seen talking to each other," Sharma was quoted as saying by media.

Rajya Sabha MP, Shri @AnandSharmaINC addresses the media on President Ram Nath Kovind's speech in Parliament. https://t.co/d3a4yUDub8

— Congress (@INCIndia) June 20, 2019

Early in the day, social media was deluged with various posts, trolling the Congress chief brutally as he was seen scrolling through his phone, typing some texts and clicking photographs, during Kovind's one-hour-long speech at Parliament. While some Twitterati wondered if Gandhi was searching for "How to behave in Parliament", others ask - "What would have been the scenario if he was elected the prime minister of India!"

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After he kept his phone down, the Congress president was also seen talking to his mother Sonia Gandhi for about 20 minutes while Kovind was speaking about the key achievements of the Modi 1.0 dispensation in the last five years. However, Sonia was found attentive to the President's speech and even applauded in between. Whereas, Rahul did not bother to laud the President for any of the topics he spoke on.

While the entire House, including Sonia Gandhi broke into a huge round of applause, appreciating the previous BJP government for the historical Uri and Balakot surgical strikes, Rahul Gandhi kept staring at the floor unmoved. This abrupt behaviour of the Gandhi scion prompted Sonia to stare at him for several times though his attitude remained unchanged.

Rahul Gandhi busy on Mobile while Hon'ble President addresing Loksabha members #PresidentKovind pic.twitter.com/hz0D9ejEmb

— भाजपा किसान मोर्चा (@bjpkm4kisan) June 20, 2019

Rahul Gandhi's behaviour once again faced barrage of criticism with the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) accusing him of being indisciplined and uninterested in the national affairs.