Congress sycophancy? Ex Union Minister holds slippers for Rahul Gandhi in Puducherry

QUICK PILL

• Rahul Gandhi was touring flood-hit Puducherry on Tuesday, when V Narayanasamy gave him his slippers to walk through the flooded area.

• Narayanasamy is a Congress lawmaker, and was Minister of State in the Manmohan Singh-led UPA government.

• Rahul Gandhi did not appear objecting to Narayanasamy\'s act of taking off his own slippers and placing them before his feet.

During Rahul Gandhi's tour of flood-hit Puducherry on Tuesday, 8 December, ex Union minister V Narayanasamy was seen taking off his own slippers and placing them at the Congress vice-president's feet to wade through the flooded area.

In a video released by NDTV, Gandhi can be seen putting on the slippers without much of a complaint.

Narayanasamy holding the slippers for Rahul Gandhi. Photo: Screengrab

Photo: Screengrab

However, Narayanasamy himself has shrugged off suggestions of a culture of sycophancy in the Congress.

"As a courtesy I offered my chappals as Mr Rahul Gandhi removed his shoes to walk barefoot in the water. We don't have such a culture in the Congress. Rahul carried his shoes throughout and he didn't even let his security personnel carry them for him."

"I came to see what has happened here with my own eyes. I think it's very important that instead of doing politics at this time, we try and make sure that the people of the state are given the relief that they need."

You can watch the video of him speaking to the media here.