Archive · 13 Aug 2026
Rahul Gandhi mocks PM Modi's 'forced-hug diplomacy' at Congress convention
Rahul Gandhi is a very important political leader in India who disagrees with the prime minister, Narendra Modi.
At a big meeting of his party, the Congress, held in New Delhi, Rahul made jokes about Mr. Modi.
He said Mr. Modi thinks foreign policy is all about giving world leaders hugs.
To make people laugh, Rahul ran across the stage and hugged his party friend Sandeep Dikshit, pretending to be Mr. Modi.
His friend joked, 'You weren't hugging me thinking I was Meloni?'
— Meloni is the prime minister of Italy.
Rahul also said India missed a chance to help make peace in a conflict involving Iran because Pakistan became the mediator instead.
He said China stopped Indian soldiers from patrolling in Arunachal Pradesh, and that in an earlier clash at Galwan the prime minister told people no land was lost when the army said it was.
Rahul said Mr. Modi cannot sleep at night because of the questions his party keeps asking.
People from the BJP, Mr. Modi's party, were angry and called Rahul's jokes 'gutter-level behaviour' and asked if his mental state was sound.
The funny part is that Rahul himself once gave Mr. Modi a big hug in Parliament back in 2018.
Rahul Gandhi mocked Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign policy as 'forced-hug diplomacy' at the Ratchnatmak Congress National Convention in New Delhi.
As Gandhi hugged Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit onstage, Dikshit played along, joking, 'You weren't hugging me thinking I was Meloni?' in a reference to Italian PM Giorgia Meloni.
Gandhi alleged India missed a chance to mediate the conflict involving Iran, saying Pakistan stepped in as mediator, and that China blocked Indian patrols in Arunachal Pradesh.
He claimed the Opposition's campaign had unsettled the government, saying 'Narendra Modi does not sleep at night,' and mocked Amit Shah's 'Chanakya' and 'Sardar Patel' labels.
The BJP hit back: Nishikant Dubey questioned whether Gandhi's 'mental state is sound,' while Bandi Sanjay Kumar called the remarks 'gutter-level behaviour.'
- Who
- Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, targeting PM Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah
- What
- Gandhi mocked Modi's foreign policy as 'forced-hug diplomacy,' acting out a hug with Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit onstage and drawing sharp BJP criticism
- When
- Thursday
- Where
- Ratchnatmak Congress National Convention in New Delhi
- Why
- To attack the government's foreign policy record and press the Opposition's campaign over police action against student protesters and demands for Shah to answer questions in Parliament
Congress criticism
BJP response
Onstage mockery of the PM
Congress criticism
Gandhi's hug skit made the point that diplomacy is not about 'forced hugs' and personal ties but must be driven by national interest.
BJP response
BJP leaders condemned the act: Bandi Sanjay Kumar called targeting PMs with such language 'gutter-level behaviour' that shames Indian political discourse, and Nishikant Dubey asked whether Gandhi's 'mental state is sound.'
India's foreign policy record
Congress criticism
Gandhi alleged India wasted a historic chance to mediate the conflict involving Iran, letting Pakistan step in, and claimed China blocked Indian patrols in Arunachal Pradesh while the government's 'bravado' deflated.
BJP response
The reports quote no direct government rebuttal to these specific claims; the BJP's public response focused on attacking Gandhi's conduct and language rather than the substance of his foreign policy charges.
- Event
- Ratchnatmak Congress National Convention
- Location
- New Delhi
- Date
- Thursday
- Speaker
- Rahul Gandhi, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha
- Targets
- PM Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah
- Key quote
- "Foreign policy is not forced hugs"
- BJP response
- Bandi Sanjay Kumar called it 'gutter-level behaviour'; Nishikant Dubey questioned Gandhi's 'mental state'
- Context
- Opposition campaign over police action against student protesters and demands for Shah to answer questions in Parliament
