Cong attacks Modi over candy gift to Italian PM, says this is gimmick not leadership

Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Italy, where he gifted Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni toffees, has been met with criticism from Congress leaders who say he is prioritising PR over addressing India's economic struggles.

An economic storm is raging but Prime Minister Narendra Modi is handing out candy in Italy, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Wednesday after Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni posted a video of Modi gifting her a packet of Melody toffees.

Several other Congress leaders also attacked Modi saying he continues his PR even when the economy is suffering.

However, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal hit back at Gandhi, accusing him of ''hating India'' and refusing to tolerate the ''global respect'' the country has garnered under Modi's leadership.

Gandhi, who is on a visit to his constituency Raebareli and Amethi, said on X, ''This isn't leadership, it's a gimmick.''.

At a time farmers, labourers, traders and others in the country are all in tears, the prime minister is laughing and making reels while BJP folks are clapping along, the former Congress president said in his post in Hindi.

''An economic storm is raging over our heads, and our prime minister is busy handing out candies in Italy!'' he said.

Meloni shared a post on X thanking Modi for the gift and uploaded a short video clip in which the Indian prime minister is seen presenting her with a packet of Parle's 'Melody' toffees.

''Prime Minister Modi brought us a gift -- a very very good toffee,'' Meloni said in the video as Modi shows a packet of toffees, saying ''Melody''.

''Thank you for the gift,'' Meloni said in her post.

Addressing party workers and supporters in Amethi, Gandhi said the country was in crisis and that farmers, labourers, traders and youth were all struggling with serious problems, but the prime minister ''left them helpless'' and was ''making reels in Italy while offering toffees''.

''What kind of joke is this,'' he asked.

Speaking to reporters while boarding a car, Gandhi said, ''The youth are in depression, NEET has been cancelled, gas and petrol prices are continuously rising, inflation is increasing, and Modi ji is eating toffees with (Giorgia) Meloni. This is the country's condition.''.

In his speech in Amethi, Gandhi said, ''Before going to Italy and meeting Meloni, Modi gave a speech in Hindustan and said - an economic storm is coming, don't go abroad.

''And he himself, with a Melody toffee in his pocket, took his expensive airplane and went to Italy. Then he fed Meloni the toffee and made a reel. See... what kind of prank is being played with the people of the country.''.

Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge attacked Modi over issues of ''rising'' prices, unemployment, paper leaks, ''dampening'' investment and ''sinking'' Rupee, saying the prime minister continues his PR even as the economy is suffering.

''Modi ji wants the public to enjoy the 'melody' of speeches while surviving the 'misery' of his government's loot,'' the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha said in a post on X.

He used a poster with the heading ''Looting is MELODY for BJP, but MISERY for citizens!'' along with his post on X.

Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said this was not an appropriate gift from a head of a government.

''I understand at the age of 75, Prime Minister Modi feels fatherly love towards most 49 year olds - including Italian Prime Minister Meloni. So he carried toffees for her.

''But this isn't appropriate gift from a head of state. It's Cringe Pro Max!,'' she said in a post on X.

Asked about the gifting of toffees to the Italian prime minister, Congress leader Pawan Khera said the country is in bad shape and every section of society is suffering but the prime minister is putting out pictures of his visit abroad.

''You have to become an example yourself. You can't ask me to sacrifice, when I see nothing has changed in your life,'' Khera said, citing Modi's message to people to defer buying gold and foreign travel ahead of his visit.

The Congress also said on X, ''Narendra Modi Ji, the country is in crisis. Stop distributing candies. Start taking action.''.

Reacting to Gandhi's comments, Goyal said the Congress leader has a problem with every Indian achievement and cannot tolerate the global recognition the country is receiving under Modi's leadership.

''Why does Rahul Gandhi hate India and everything made in India so much,'' he asked in a post on X.

Earlier, Goyal wrote on X, ''India's TOFFEE TALE would surely be melody to the ears! Exports have grown nearly 166% since 2013-14.''.

BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari also said on X, ''MELODI just got a little SWEETER''.