India Stresses ‘Mutual Respect’ With Italy After Rahul Gandhi’s Giorgia Meloni Jibe
India on Friday stressed 'mutual respect' and 'understanding' with Italy after a political row over Rahul Gandhi’s remarks involving Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The MEA said India and Italy 'share deep and strong ties' and are committed to strengthening them. BJP leaders, meanwhile, criticised Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on PM Modi’s foreign policy.
India on Friday, August 14, stressed the importance of “mutual respect” and “understanding” in its bilateral relationship with Italy, a day after Congress leaders, including Rahul Gandhi, took a swipe at Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during a party event in Delhi. The Ministry of External Affairs also underlined that India and Italy “share deep and strong ties”.
The statement came amid a political controversy over Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign policy. The BJP has accused the Congress leader of using “uncultured and indecent” language and lowering the dignity of the office of the Leader of Opposition. Devendra Fadnavis Calls Rahul Gandhi ‘Chichora’, Demands Apology Over PM Narendra Modi-Giorgia Meloni ‘Hug’ Remark (Video).
MEA Stresses ‘Mutual Respect’ With Italy After Rahul Gandhi’s Giorgia Meloni Jibe
Bi-Weekly Media Briefing by the Official Spokesperson (August 14, 2026)
— Randhir Jaiswal (@MEAIndia) August 14, 2026
India Stresses Strong Ties With Italy
“We share deep and strong ties with Italy, and we are committed to further strengthening this relationship. When it comes to friendship and bilateral relations between two countries, it is important that they are maintained within a framework of mutual respect and understanding,” the Ministry of External Affairs said today.
The MEA statement came a day after Rahul Gandhi and Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit were involved in an exchange at a Congress party event in Delhi. Rahul Gandhi Takes Swipe at PM Narendra Modi’s ‘Hug Diplomacy’ With Giorgia Meloni, World Leaders (Video).
Rahul Gandhi had been criticising PM Modi’s approach to diplomacy and suggested that the Prime Minister placed excessive emphasis on symbolic gestures such as hugging foreign leaders.
Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Mock Hug’ Sparks Row
At the event, Rahul Gandhi greeted Sandeep Dikshit with a 'mock hug'.
Dikshit then brought Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni into the exchange with a snide remark, and Rahul Gandhi played along.
The episode prompted a sharp response from BJP leaders, who accused Rahul Gandhi of making inappropriate remarks about the Prime Minister and foreign leaders.
BJP Leaders Attack Rahul Gandhi
Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi was among the first BJP leaders to respond, questioning when Rahul Gandhi would “grow up”.
“Rahul Gandhi, when will you grow up? Running India requires mature leadership, not amateur dramatics. Calling a democratically elected government 'jokers and clowns' proves you are out of your depth," Joshi said.
“The Prime Minister is an elected leader. Unlike Rahul Gandhi and his family, he did not ascend through a hierarchy, nor did he rise due to family lineage or dynastic politics. The words being used, the level to which one is stooping, reflect sheer stupidity and frustration on Rahul Gandhi's part. It is this frustration that drives him to use abusive language," the Union minister said, adding that by insulting the prime minister, Rahul Gandhi had insulted the people of India.
Union Minister Giriraj Singh also escalated the attack, calling Rahul Gandhi “mentally frustrated” and asking Sonia Gandhi to “get him help”.
“Rahul Gandhi appears to be mentally frustrated. His conduct has crossed all limits of decency. If Sonia Gandhi does not intervene and ensure that he receives appropriate help, the situation could become serious," the minister said.
BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj also criticised Rahul Gandhi, saying his language was contrary to the dignity expected of the Leader of Opposition.
Political Row Over Foreign Policy
The controversy began with Rahul Gandhi’s criticism of PM Modi’s handling of foreign policy. He implied that the Prime Minister oversimplifies diplomacy by focusing on symbolic gestures such as hugging foreign leaders.
The subsequent reference to Giorgia Meloni turned the exchange into a broader political controversy, with BJP leaders accusing Rahul Gandhi of crossing the limits of political discourse.
The MEA, however, focused on the bilateral relationship between India and Italy, reiterating New Delhi’s commitment to strengthening ties with Rome and stressing that relations between the two countries should remain grounded in “mutual respect and understanding”.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 14, 2026 07:31 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
