# Rahul Gandhi mocks Modi’s ‘hugplomacy’, BJP hits back

2026-08-14T02:40:35+00:00 | Politics | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 4 independent outlets

Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Thursday mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign policy as 'all about hugging leaders' and hugged Congress colleague Sandeep Dikshit to demonstrate. Dikshit then asked Gandhi if he hugged him 'thinking he was Meloni' (Italian PM Georgia Meloni), to which Gandhi replied 'I have not reached there yet'. The exchange sparked a BJP backlash, with Union minister Pralhad Joshi calling Gandhi 'immature' and his language 'indecent'. Gandhi also labelled the BJP-RSS a 'bunch of jokers'. He separately alleged that China has stopped Indian troops from patrolling in parts of Arunachal Pradesh, a claim the government has not commented on.

## Coverage

- hindustantimes.com <https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/foreign-policy-hugging-rahul-gandhi-jibe-at-pm-modi-govt-meloni-sandeep-dikshit-row-101786670985839.html>
- ndtv.com <https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/when-will-you-grow-up-bjp-slams-rahul-gandhi-over-hug-jibe-at-pm-modi-11908035#publisher=newsstand>
- rediff.com <https://www.rediff.com/news/report/rahul-hugs-cong-leader-calls-it-modis-foreign-policy-then-comes-meloni-dig/20260814.htm>
- thefederal.com <https://thefederal.com/category/news/rahul-gandhi-mocks-modis-foreign-policy-dikshits-meloni-remark-triggers-row-253483>

Tags: BJP, Congress, foreign policy, Narendra Modi, political row, Rahul Gandhi
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