A fresh political row has erupted between the BJP and Congress after Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign policy, mocking what he described as the Prime Minister’s emphasis on hugging world leaders.
The remarks have drawn a sharp response from the BJP, with Union ministers accusing Gandhi of lowering the dignity of the office he holds and using language they described as uncultured and unacceptable. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said he had never seen such conduct from a Leader of Opposition and described the comments as “petty” and “condemnable”.
The controversy began after Gandhi criticised the Modi government’s approach to international diplomacy. In a speech, he suggested that the Prime Minister viewed foreign policy largely through public gestures with world leaders. His comments included a reference to Modi’s public interactions and embraces with foreign leaders, giving the remarks a sharper political edge.
The BJP quickly seized on the comments, accusing Gandhi of crossing the line between political criticism and personal attacks. The party argued that while the Opposition has every right to question the government’s foreign policy, the Leader of Opposition should maintain a certain level of decorum.
BJP leaders also objected to comments that referred to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni. The remarks have triggered a separate controversy because of India’s diplomatic relationship with Italy.
The Ministry of External Affairs on Friday urged political leaders and others to remain mindful of India’s strong ties with Italy and stressed the importance of respectful public discourse. The intervention came after remarks by Gandhi and Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit concerning Modi’s foreign policy and his interactions with Meloni.
Rajnath Singh attacks Gandhi
Rajnath Singh was among the strongest voices in the BJP‘s response. He said Gandhi’s remarks were not merely political criticism but reflected poorly on the office of the Leader of Opposition.
Singh described the language as extremely low-level and said it caused him considerable pain. He also argued that such conduct could damage the quality of democratic discourse in the country.
In another sharp response, Singh questioned how someone carrying the Gandhi surname could make what he considered such a shameful statement. His comments reflected the BJP’s broader attempt to frame the controversy as one of political conduct rather than simply a disagreement over foreign policy.
BJP president Nitin Nabin also criticised Gandhi, arguing that Indian cultural traditions place importance on showing respect to elders and women. He said political frustration could not justify what he called indecent remarks.
The BJP has repeatedly targeted Gandhi over his style of political criticism, particularly when his attacks are directed personally at Modi. The latest confrontation adds to a long-running pattern of exchanges between the two sides, in which policy disagreements often spill into highly personal political rhetoric.
BJP questions Opposition leader’s conduct
The BJP’s criticism has focused heavily on Gandhi’s position as Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
The party has argued that the position carries institutional responsibility and that political leaders should distinguish between robust criticism and personal mockery. BJP leaders said Gandhi could question the government’s foreign policy without resorting to remarks they considered disrespectful towards the Prime Minister.
The BJP also accused Gandhi of diminishing the dignity of Parliament and the Opposition’s constitutional role.
The Congress, however, has consistently maintained that the Opposition has a responsibility to question the government and scrutinise the Prime Minister’s policies. Gandhi’s comments were made in the broader context of his criticism of the Modi government’s handling of India’s international relations.
Foreign policy becomes political flashpoint
The controversy also highlights how foreign policy has increasingly become part of domestic political battles.
Gandhi has repeatedly criticised the Modi government’s handling of India’s relations with China, the United States and other major powers. His latest remarks focused on what he portrayed as the gap between the government’s diplomatic messaging and the results of its foreign policy.
The BJP, on the other hand, has defended Modi’s diplomatic outreach as an important part of India’s growing global engagement. The Prime Minister’s public meetings, handshakes and embraces with foreign leaders have become a recognisable feature of his international diplomacy.
The clash comes at a time when relations between the ruling BJP and Congress remain particularly combative. Parliament’s recent Monsoon Session was marked by repeated disruptions and sharp exchanges between the government and Opposition.
Gandhi is also facing separate scrutiny after the Lok Sabha Secretariat sought his response to privilege complaints over remarks he made about Union Home Minister Amit Shah during a parliamentary debate.
The latest controversy therefore adds another layer to the increasingly tense political environment surrounding the Congress leader.
