The political row over Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign policy escalated on Friday, with the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) stressing that India’s relationship with Italy is based on “mutual respect” and “understanding”.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal addressed the issue while speaking to reporters, emphasising that India and Italy have developed strong and expanding bilateral ties in recent years.
MEA responds to Rahul Gandhi’s remarks
Responding to questions about Gandhi’s criticism, Jaiswal said India’s relationship with Italy has strengthened across several areas and highlighted the importance of maintaining diplomatic ties with mutual respect.
“We have strong ties with Italy. Our ties with Italy in recent years have expanded and strengthened in every which way,” Jaiswal said.
He added that diplomatic relations should be conducted while respecting each other and understanding the interests of both sides.
“There’s mutual understanding between the two sides,” the MEA spokesperson said.
The remarks came amid a political controversy over Gandhi’s comments criticising the Modi government’s approach to international diplomacy.
What Rahul Gandhi said about Modi’s foreign policy
Gandhi had accused the government of placing too much emphasis on personal relationships with foreign leaders instead of focusing on India’s strategic interests.
He argued that the Prime Minister’s role was not simply about maintaining friendships with other heads of government but about protecting India’s interests.
“You aren’t just visiting a friend’s house,” Gandhi said, questioning the idea that foreign policy should be associated with personal friendships.
He also took aim at the practice of leaders publicly embracing foreign dignitaries, arguing that such gestures should not be confused with effective diplomacy.
Gandhi uses Meloni reference to make his point
During his remarks, Gandhi referred to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, with the comments subsequently triggering criticism from BJP leaders.
At one point, Gandhi appeared to use a humorous exchange with Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit to underline his criticism.
Dikshit asked Gandhi whether he had mistaken someone for Meloni while embracing him. Gandhi responded jokingly that he had “not reached there yet”.
The exchange quickly became part of the wider political debate surrounding Gandhi’s comments.
BJP leaders condemn Gandhi’s remarks
Gandhi’s comments have drawn sharp criticism from several BJP leaders, who accused the Congress MP of crossing the limits of political discourse.
The controversy has once again brought the Modi government’s foreign policy under political scrutiny, with the Opposition questioning whether personal rapport between leaders should play a role in diplomacy.
The government, meanwhile, has maintained that India’s international relationships are guided by broader national interests and diplomatic engagement.
The MEA’s response sought to shift the focus towards the institutional nature of India-Italy relations, with Jaiswal underlining the strength and expanding scope of bilateral ties.
India-Italy ties in focus
India and Italy have sought to deepen cooperation across multiple areas in recent years. The MEA’s latest comments indicate that New Delhi views the relationship as an important bilateral partnership that extends beyond the personal rapport between political leaders.
As the political debate over Gandhi’s remarks continues, the government’s response has emphasised mutual respect, understanding and expanding bilateral cooperation as the foundation of India-Italy relations.
