# MEA urges respect after Rahul Gandhi’s Meloni jibe

2026-08-14T18:59:23+00:00 | Politics | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 4 independent outlets

The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday said India’s ties with Italy have “expanded and strengthened in every way” and stressed the need for mutual respect in public discourse. Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal’s remarks came after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s “hug diplomacy” at an event and fellow Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit made a jibe about Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. Gandhi said Modi’s foreign policy was only about hugging leaders, and Dikshit asked if Gandhi had mistaken him for Meloni. The BJP criticised the comments, with Amit Malviya calling them “far more disturbing” and Nishikant Dubey sharing a picture of Indira Gandhi hugging foreign leaders.

## Coverage

- news.abplive.com <https://news.abplive.com/news/india/india-italy-ties-have-expanded-strengthened-mea-randhir-jaiswal-reacts-to-congress-leader-rahul-gandhi-pm-modi-georgia-meloni-hug-jibe-foreign-policy-1862098>
- indiatvnews.com <https://www.indiatvnews.com/news/india/government-stresses-strong-india-italy-ties-calls-for-respectful-remarks-over-congress-meloni-jibe-2026-08-14-1051410>
- english.mathrubhumi.com <https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/india/rahul-gandhis-remarks-on-meloni-mea-urges-respect-in-public-discourse-stresses-india-italy-ties-pmdgk4q7>
- timesnownews.com <https://www.timesnownews.com/india/rahuls-hug-diplomacy-remark-backfires-bjp-counters-with-indira-gandhi-pic-article-155623373>

Tags: Amit Malviya, Giorgia Meloni, India-Italy relations, MEA, Rahul Gandhi, Sandeep Dikshit
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