Govt on Congress’ ‘Meloni jibe’: India-Italy ties based on ‘mutual respect, understanding’

India’s relations with Italy have strengthened and expanded significantly in recent years, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said on Friday while responding to remarks by Congress leaders involving Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Italian counterpart Giorgia Meloni.

“We have strong ties with Italy. Our ties with Italy in recent years have expanded and strengthened in every which way,” MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said at a regular media briefing.

Jaiswal was responding to a question about remarks made by Congress leaders at a party event. He stressed that diplomatic practice requires both sides to remain respectful and foster mutual understanding.

“It’s important as part of diplomatic practice that we strengthen our ties…being respectful of each other, and there’s mutual understanding between the two sides,” he said.

What did Rahul Gandhi say?

Addressing a Congress event in New Delhi, Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign policy, saying it was largely centred on hugging foreign leaders.

Gandhi then hugged Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit on stage.

Dikshit responded in Hindi, asking whether Gandhi had mistaken him for Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

Gandhi replied, “I have not reached there yet.”

Modi and Meloni have developed a close rapport in recent years, frequently sharing photographs and selfies from their meetings and interactions on social media.

BJP attacks Congress leaders

BJP leaders criticised Gandhi and Dikshit over the remarks, with some calling them “shameful”.

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma accused the Congress leadership of “crossing every line of decency” by making objectionable remarks about a woman head of government.

BJP Mahila Morcha chief Vanathi Srinivasan said the “mocking” of Modi and Meloni reflected a lack of political maturity and represented a “new low for public discourse”.

The MEA, however, kept its response focused on the broader importance of maintaining respectful and mutually beneficial diplomatic relations between India and Italy.