BJP Hits Back at Rahul Gandhi Over ‘Hug’ Jibe at PM Modi, Asks: “When Will You Grow Up?”
New Delhi : The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has launched a sharp attack on Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi following his remarks mocking Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s approach to foreign policy. The BJP accused Gandhi of using inappropriate language against the Prime Minister and said his comments fell short of the dignity expected from someone holding a constitutional position.
The controversy began after Rahul Gandhi addressed the Rachnatmak Congress National Convention on Thursday. During his speech, Gandhi took a dig at Prime Minister Modi’s foreign policy, suggesting that the Prime Minister’s approach to international diplomacy was largely focused on symbolic gestures such as hugging foreign leaders.
To make his point, Gandhi even staged a hug with Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit on the stage. The moment was used to mock what Gandhi described as the Prime Minister’s understanding of diplomacy. The exchange also included a reference to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, with Dikshit making a remark that prompted Gandhi and others on stage to join in the humour.
Gandhi also criticised the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS), describing them as a “bunch of jokers” and claiming that they did not understand India.
The remarks quickly drew a strong response from BJP leaders, who accused the Congress leader of crossing the line of political criticism and resorting to personal attacks.
Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi was among the first BJP leaders to respond. Taking aim at Gandhi, Joshi asked him to “grow up” and argued that running a country required mature leadership rather than what he described as political theatrics.
Joshi said that referring to a democratically elected government as “jokers and clowns” demonstrated what he called Gandhi’s lack of understanding of the responsibilities associated with his position. He also contrasted Prime Minister Modi’s political journey with that of the Gandhi family, arguing that Modi had risen through electoral politics rather than family lineage.
The Union minister further accused Gandhi of using abusive language out of frustration and said that insulting the Prime Minister amounted to insulting the people who had elected him.
The BJP’s criticism did not stop there. Union Minister Giriraj Singh described Rahul Gandhi as “mentally frustrated” and strongly objected to the tone of his remarks. Singh also appealed to Sonia Gandhi to intervene, claiming that Gandhi’s conduct had crossed acceptable limits of political discourse.
BJP MP Bansuri Swaraj also criticised Gandhi’s choice of words. She said that the language used against Prime Minister Modi was inappropriate for someone serving as the Leader of the Opposition, a position that carries constitutional significance.
Swaraj argued that the country needed an Opposition leader who could provide constructive criticism and hold the government accountable rather than rely on what she described as provocative comments designed primarily to generate attention on social media.
Union Minister Sukanta Majumdar also condemned the remarks, particularly the exchange involving Prime Minister Modi and Giorgia Meloni. He described the episode as a new low in public discourse and criticised Congress leaders for laughing along with the comments.
The BJP’s response reflects the increasingly confrontational political atmosphere between the ruling party and the Congress. Rahul Gandhi has frequently targeted the Modi government over issues including foreign policy, the economy and governance, while the BJP has repeatedly accused him of making personal attacks against the Prime Minister.
The latest controversy once again highlights the sharp political divide between the two sides. While Gandhi’s supporters may view his remarks as political satire and criticism of the government’s diplomatic style, the BJP has argued that such comments undermine the dignity of the office of the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition.
At the centre of the dispute is Gandhi’s criticism of Prime Minister Modi’s highly visible interactions with foreign leaders, particularly the use of public embraces during diplomatic engagements. Gandhi used the gesture as a way to question whether such symbolic moments should be considered a measure of successful foreign policy.
The BJP, however, has rejected that framing and defended the Prime Minister’s diplomatic record, maintaining that India’s foreign policy involves much more than public appearances and symbolic gestures.
The exchange is likely to add another layer to the ongoing political battle between the BJP and Congress, with both parties continuing to use Parliament, public rallies and political conventions to challenge each other’s leadership and policies.
For now, the BJP has made it clear that it intends to turn Gandhi’s remarks into a broader political issue, questioning not only his criticism of the Prime Minister but also the tone and manner in which he chooses to express it.
News source: Information for this article was gathered from a variety of reliable news outlets.
