Leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday for giving out toffees to Italian PM Giorgia Meloni during his visit to Rome.
In a post on X, he said, “An economic storm is raging over our heads, and our Prime Minister is busy handing out candies in Italy! Farmers, youth, women, labourers, and small traders are all in tears - the PM is laughing and making reels, while the BJP folks are clapping along.”
“This isn't leadership, it's a farce,” he added.
आर्थिक तूफ़ान सर पर है, और हमारे प्रधानमंत्री इटली में टॉफ़ी बाँट रहे हैं!
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) May 20, 2026
किसान, युवा, महिलाएँ, मज़दूर और छोटे व्यापारी सब रो रहे हैं - PM हंसकर रील बना रहे हैं, और BJP वाले ताली बजा रहे हैं।
यह नेतृत्व नहीं, नौटंकी है।
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge also joined in on the criticism against PM Modi and said that he wants “the public to enjoy the 'melody' of speeches while surviving the 'misery' of his government's loot !”
“In the past 11 years, under the Modi Govt, the average debt per Indian has increased 11-fold....!! ...while the wealth of 229 tycoons, along with 26 newly added billionaires, has reportedly crossed ₹97.50 lakh crore.”
Modi ji wants the public to enjoy the “melody” of speeches while surviving the “misery” of his government's loot !
— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) May 20, 2026
In the past 11 years, under Modi Govt, the average debt per Indian has increased 11-fold....!!
...while the wealth of 229 tycoons, along with 26 newly added… pic.twitter.com/nyuuUuyjlY
He also accused the government of triggering an economic crisis marked by rising prices, unemployment and weakening investor confidence.
The Congress leader's remarks came after PM Modi gifted Meloni a packet of Melody toffee during his arrival in Rome for the final leg of his five-nation tour in Europe.
The Italian PM had posted the incident in a light-hearted video, thanking the Indian PM for the gift.
The moment soon went viral online with many posting about the familiar “Melodi” moment. Melodi is a combination of the the two prime minister's names that was popularised due to the their ongoing friendship, which began during the COP28 in 2023.
Meloni also posted many other moments from their meetup, including a photograph of Modi with the caption “Welcome to Rome, my friend.”
Thank you for the gift pic.twitter.com/7ePxbJwPbA
— Giorgia Meloni (@GiorgiaMeloni) May 20, 2026
The visit to Italy is part of the growing bilateral ties between the countries.
In a post on X, Modi said discussions would centre on expanding India-Italy cooperation.
“I have landed in Rome, Italy. I will meet President Sergio Mattarella and Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni and hold discussions with them. This visit will focus on how to strengthen cooperation between India and Italy, with particular attention to the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC),” he said.
