Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi after the latter took a swipe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s visit to Italy through a social media post. The political exchange unfolded as PM Modi continued his official engagements in Rome aimed at strengthening India-Italy strategic ties.
Reacting strongly to Rahul Gandhi’s remarks, Goyal accused the Congress leader of undermining India’s global achievements and questioned his repeated criticism of the country’s diplomatic and economic progress. He stated that India has emerged as a trusted global destination under initiatives such as “Make in India” and “Local Goes Global,” adding that the country is now receiving unprecedented international respect and investment.
The Union Minister said that under PM Modi’s leadership, India has earned credibility and trust on the global stage after decades of waiting, and alleged that such success appeared difficult for the opposition to accept.
Rahul Gandhi had earlier commented on social media that while the country was facing economic challenges, the Prime Minister was in Italy “distributing sweets.” His remark came after videos and photographs from PM Modi’s meeting with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni gained widespread attention online.
During the interaction in Rome, PM Modi gifted Giorgia Meloni a packet of Parle’s Melody toffees, a gesture that quickly became a talking point on social media. The Italian Prime Minister also shared a video of the exchange, drawing renewed attention to the popular “Melodi” trend that combines the surnames of Modi and Meloni.
The term “Melodi” first became viral after Giorgia Meloni posted a selfie video with PM Modi during the COP28 Summit in Dubai, captioned “Good friends at COP28.” Since then, the phrase has become symbolic of the warm personal rapport between the two leaders and the strengthening ties between India and Italy.
PM Modi’s ongoing visit to Italy marks the final leg of his Europe tour and includes high-level bilateral discussions focused on trade, defence cooperation, connectivity, innovation, and strategic coordination. The visit has also seen symbolic engagements, including the leaders’ interaction at Rome’s iconic Colosseum.
The growing India-Italy relationship has increasingly been viewed as part of a broader strategic alignment between India and European nations amid changing global geopolitical and economic realities. The recent elevation of bilateral ties to a “Special Strategic Partnership” further reflects the expanding scope of cooperation between the two countries.
