- MEA spokesperson Jaiswal said, "We have strong ties with Italy. Our ties with Italy in recent years have expanded and strengthened. It is important that as part of diplomatic practice that we strengthen our ties keeping in mind being respectful of each other."
- In an address at an event on Thursday evening, Rahul scoffed at Modi's handling of foreign policy which he claimed was all about hugging leaders.
- The Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha also said it has somehow been ingrained in Modi's mind that foreign policy is all about hugging leaders.
- Rahul then hugged Dikshit in a bid to demonstrate what the current government's foreign policy was about.
- Rahul said, "Imagine the ignorance... where did he get the idea that foreign policy was about hugging leaders."
- Dikshit then asked Rahul, "Ek cheez pooch sakta hoon? Meloni samajh ke toh nahi pakda tha?" Rahul responded by saying, "I have not reached there yet."
- The BJP has come down hard on Gandhi as well as Dikshit.
India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) emphasized the importance of maintaining respect in diplomatic relations with Italy, following remarks from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi that criticized Prime Minister Modi's foreign policy as overly focused on personal gestures like hugging.237
Gandhi's comments came during an event where he demonstrated his point by hugging a fellow party member, stating, "Imagine the ignorance... where did he get the idea that foreign policy was about hugging leaders?" This jibe at Modi's approach to international relations sparked backlash from the ruling BJP, which condemned both Gandhi and his colleague Dikshit for their remarks.4
The MEA's response highlighted the growing relationship between India and Italy, with spokesperson Jaiswal stating, "We have strong ties with Italy. Our ties with Italy in recent years have expanded and strengthened." He stressed the need for mutual respect in public discourse, especially in the context of international diplomacy.
The incident underscores the ongoing political tensions in India, where foreign policy is often a contentious topic, and the importance of maintaining decorum in discussions about international relations.
“Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, had earlier hugged Dikshit to demonstrate his critique, saying 'Imagine the ignorance... where did he get the idea that foreign policy was about hugging leaders.' The BJP has since come down hard on both Gandhi and Dikshit.”
