The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday stressed the need for diplomatic restraint after Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sandeep Dikshit referred to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni while criticising Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s approach to foreign policy.

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal, while responding to questions about the remarks, underlined that India’s relationship with Italy has expanded significantly in recent years and said both countries should maintain mutual respect in their diplomatic engagement.

“We have strong ties with Italy,” Jaiswal said, adding that the relationship had strengthened “in every way”. He emphasised that diplomatic interactions should be guided by respect and mutual understanding.

WHAT DID RAHUL GANDHI SAY?

The MEA response came a day after Rahul Gandhi took a swipe at Modi’s foreign policy during the Congress’ Rachnatmak Congress National Convention in New Delhi.

Gandhi questioned what he described as the Prime Minister’s emphasis on personal rapport with foreign leaders. He asked where the notion had come from that foreign policy was simply about “hugging leaders”.

To illustrate his point, Gandhi hugged Sandeep Dikshit while speaking on stage.

Dikshit then made a reference to Giorgia Meloni, asking Gandhi whether he had “caught” someone thinking she was the Italian leader. Gandhi responded jokingly that he had “not reached there yet”.

The exchange was an apparent reference to Modi’s public interactions with Meloni, who has maintained close engagement with India during her tenure as Italy’s prime minister.

MEA HIGHLIGHTS INDIA-ITALY RELATIONS

Jaiswal did not directly comment on the Congress leaders’ exchange. Instead, he focused on the importance of maintaining the India-Italy relationship.

He said bilateral ties had grown considerably in recent years and indicated that both sides should continue working towards stronger relations while respecting each other.

The diplomatic response comes amid a larger political confrontation over the Congress' criticism of Modi's handling of international affairs.

GANDHI QUESTIONS MODI'S FOREIGN POLICY

During his speech, Gandhi argued that foreign policy should be based on India's strategic interests rather than personal friendships between political leaders.

He also drew a comparison with former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi, referring to her handling of India's relations with major global powers.

Gandhi further cited the US-Iran conflict, arguing that India could have attempted to play a mediating role because of its relationships with the United States, Russia and Iran.

He criticised the Modi government for what he described as failing to take advantage of such an opportunity.

BJP HITS BACK AT CONGRESS

The BJP has strongly criticised Gandhi's remarks, accusing him of lowering the standard of political discourse.

BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said Gandhi had crossed the line with his comments about the BJP and RSS, while other BJP leaders also objected to the reference involving Meloni.

The issue has now acquired a diplomatic dimension, with the MEA choosing not to enter the political debate directly but instead emphasising the importance of India's expanding partnership with Italy and the principle of mutual respect between the two countries.