Did Italy Rebuke Rahul Gandhi Over Giorgia Meloni Joke? Viral Post Is From Fake Account
A viral post claiming the Italian Embassy in India rebuked Rahul Gandhi over a joke involving Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni is fake. There is no evidence of any such statement in the embassy’s official communications. The post appears to have originated from a fake account impersonating the Italian diplomatic mission.
A post claiming that the Italian Embassy in India issued an official statement condemning Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks involving Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni has been circulating widely on social media. The claim traces back to a post from an account named "Italy in India" with the handle @AINga5f on X, which wrote, "We will not tolerate this kind of disrespect." However, the account is not the official, verified handle of the Italian Embassy in New Delhi, and no such statement has been issued through Italy's genuine diplomatic channels, indicating the viral post originates from an impersonator account rather than an authentic source.
What Triggered The Controversy
The viral claim stems from real remarks made by Rahul Gandhi and fellow Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit at the Rachnatmak Congress Organising National Convention in New Delhi on August 13, 2026. During the event, Gandhi mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign policy approach by hugging Dikshit on stage, saying he wanted to demonstrate what "foreign policy" meant for Modi. Dikshit then asked Gandhi whether he had hugged him "thinking he was Meloni," to which Gandhi responded, "I have not reached there yet."Â Did Giorgia Meloni Wear a Palestinian Flag and Slam Benjamin Netanyahu? Video Turns Out To Be AI-Generated.
The exchange, widely seen as a reference to Modi's viral "Melodi" moment with Meloni at COP28, drew sharp criticism from BJP leaders, who called the remarks "uncultured, crude and vulgar" and accused Gandhi of using inappropriate language about a foreign head of government. Several BJP figures, including MP Bansuri Swaraj and Union Minister Pralhad Joshi, publicly condemned the comments in the days that followed.
Viral Italian Embassy Statement Against Rahul Gandhi Over Meloni Joke Is Fake
Why The @AINga5f Account Is Not The Real Italian Embassy
Amid the political fallout, the post from the account "Italy in India" (@AINga5f) began circulating widely, with many users assuming it was the genuine account of the Italian Embassy or Italy's diplomatic mission in India. However, the account does not match the Italian Embassy's verified official handle, and its post condemning Gandhi's remarks has no corresponding statement on the Embassy of Italy's actual website or verified social media presence. Giorgia Meloni Shares Video As PM Narendra Modi Gifts ‘Melody’ Chocolates to His Italian Counterpart, Revives Viral ‘Melodi’ Moment (Watch Video).
Diplomatic missions typically issue formal statements through their verified handles or press releases, and no record of an authentic condemnation from Italian officials has been traced to any legitimate source. The pattern is consistent with previous instances involving Gandhi, where fabricated screenshots, doctored clippings and impersonator accounts have gone viral during periods of political controversy, only to later be identified as fake.
The Broader Political Reaction
While no genuine statement has come from Italy's government or diplomatic channels, the domestic political row over the remarks has continued, with Congress leaders defending Gandhi's comments as light-hearted political messaging aimed at Modi's diplomatic style, while BJP leaders have maintained that the language used was inappropriate and disrespectful toward a foreign leader. The controversy remains a matter of domestic political debate in India, with the viral claim of an Italian rebuke traced to an impersonator account rather than any official diplomatic response.
Fact check
Italy’s Embassy rebuked Rahul Gandhi over his joke about Giorgia Meloni.
False. The viral statement is from a fake account and was not issued by the Italian Embassy in India.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 14, 2026 03:19 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
