New Delhi, April 22, 2025 — A symbolic accessory once again ignited a heated political discourse in the Parliament on Tuesday as BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj arrived at a Joint Parliamentary Committee meeting on the ‘One Nation, One Election’ initiative carrying a tote bag emblazoned with the phrase “National Herald Ki Loot.”
The bold message was an unmistakable swipe at the Congress party and the Gandhi family, referencing the Enforcement Directorate’s (ED) chargesheet in the high-profile National Herald money laundering case. The ED has alleged that Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi acquired real estate assets valued at over ₹2,000 crore for a nominal price through a series of transactions involving Associated Journals Ltd. and Young Indian Pvt. Ltd.
The bag instantly drew attention, particularly as it echoed the communication tactics often employed by Congress General Secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, who has made headlines in the past for carrying statement-making bags into the Parliament precinct.
Political Symbolism and the Battle of Messages
Bansuri Swaraj’s act is widely viewed as a direct counter to Priyanka Gandhi’s recent symbolic gestures. In December last year, Priyanka had walked into Parliament with a bag bearing the word “Palestine”, which drew criticism from BJP members who accused her of “communal signaling.” Vadra, however, strongly rebutted the backlash.
“Who is going to decide what clothes I wear now? That’s typical patriarchy… I will wear what I want,” Vadra said at the time. “My beliefs are public. If you look at my Twitter handle, all my comments are over there.”
Following the Palestine bag incident, Vadra again made headlines by showcasing another tote the next day that read: “Stand with Bangladeshi Hindus and Christians”, a reference to the alleged persecution of minorities in Bangladesh after the exit of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina.
BJP vs Congress: Escalating Tensions
The BJP has consistently used the National Herald case as a political cudgel, accusing the Congress leadership of corruption and misuse of public funds. Congress, on its part, has repeatedly denied the allegations, labeling the ED’s action as politically motivated and part of a broader strategy by the ruling party to stifle opposition voices through investigative agencies.
The tote bag diplomacy playing out in the corridors of Parliament has brought a new layer to political messaging, underlining how sartorial statements are now being strategically deployed as part of India’s deeply polarized political narrative.
As Parliament gears up for contentious discussions on key legislative agendas, this symbolic back-and-forth underscores the theatrical and increasingly visual nature of political confrontation in the modern era.
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