The Ministry of External Affairson Friday, August 14, 202 stated that India and Italy share deep, expanding bilateral ties and stressed that diplomatic practice requires mutual respect and understanding following a controversial reference to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni by opposition Congress leaders.
The MEA’s response comes following a remark involving Giorgia Meloni triggered political criticism, as Rahul Gandhi’s broader attack on PM Modi’s. India has stressed on the importance of “mutual respect” and “understanding” in its bilateral relationship with Italy respectful”: Following Political Dispute
The Ministry of External Affairs called for strict adherence to diplomatic decorum on Friday, August 14, 2026, after opposition leaders targeted Prime Minister Modi with remarks referencing Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.Congress leader Rahul Gandhi had publicly mocked
PM Modi’s foreign policy, characterizing it as focused merely on physical embraces with international heads of state.
Amidst the exchange, party colleague Sandeep Dikshit introduced an explicit reference to Meloni, prompting a sharp rebuke from the government over the breach of political protocol.
Official spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal firmly defended the administration’s diplomatic strategy, stating that bilateral relations with Rome have expanded and strengthened in every possible way under PM Modi’s leadership. The ministry emphasized that standard diplomatic practice requires absolute mutual respect and understanding, cautioning domestic political figures to keep international partnerships isolated from domestic political rhetoric
News Edit KV Raman
