Today's theme — Bangladesh: Priyanka Gandhi's bag draws attention again day after 'Palestine' row

Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra made a statement in Parliament on Monday by arriving with a bag bearing the word ‘Palestine’.

A day after setting off a political firestorm for sporting a pro-Palestine bag, Congress MP Priyanka Gandhi Vadra  on Tuesday was seen carrying a new bag with the words 'Justice for Bangladesh Hindus' imprinted on it.

"Stand with Bangladeshi Hindus and Christians," the quote on her bag read, in reference to the incidents of attacks on minorities in Bangladesh following the ouster of former prime minister Sheikh Hasina earlier this year. Priyanka's "bag move" inspired other Opposition MPs to carry similar bags and protest in unison.  In her address during the Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha on Monday, Priyanka called upon the government to raise the issue of atrocities against minorities in Bangladesh. She urged the Centre to engage diplomatically with Dhaka to ensure the safety of Hindus and Christians.

Priyanka  was seen displaying her support for Palestine by carrying a bag embellished with "Palestine" as she arrived in Parliament for the winter session on Monday.

The bag featured striking symbols associated with Palestinian solidarity, including a watermelon, a known symbol of resistance in the region.

A photo of Priyanka sporting the bag was posted on X by Congress spokesperson Shama Mohamed. The gesture drew sharp criticism from BJP leader Sambit Patra. "The Gandhi family has always been carrying the bag of appeasement. The appeasement bag is the reason behind their rout in elections," Patra said during a press briefing.

The Congress general secretary has been vocal in condemning Israel's actions in Gaza, expressing solidarity with Palestinians and calling for a ceasefire.

Last week, Abed Elrazeg Abu Jazer, Charge d'affaires of the Palestine Embassy in New Delhi, had met Gandhi to congratulate her on her recent victory in Kerala’s Wayanad Lok Sabha constituency.

BJP's IT department head Amit Malviya called Priyanka an even 'bigger disaster than Rahul Gandhi.' "At the end of this Parliament session, observe a two minute silence for everyone in the Congress, who believed Priyanka Vadra was the long-awaited solution, they should have embraced earlier. She is a bigger disaster than Rahul Gandhi, who thinks sporting a bag in support of Palestine in the Parliament, is about fighting patriarchy. That is right. Crass communal virtue signaling to Muslims is now cloaked as stance against patriarchy! Make no mistake, Congress is the New Muslim League," he said in a post on X.