Piyush Goyal Slams Rahul Gandhi Over Italy Visit Remark, Defends India’s Global Image

New Delhi, May 2026 : Union Commerce and Industry Minister Piyush Goyal on Tuesday launched a sharp attack on Congress leader Rahul Gandhi after the latter criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi over his visit to Italy and his interaction with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni.

Reacting to Rahul Gandhi’s social media post on X, Goyal questioned his attitude towards India and its achievements. “Why does Rahul Gandhi hate India and everything made in India so much?” the Union Minister said in a strongly worded statement.

He further defended India’s global standing, asserting that the country has emerged as a trusted global destination under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi. “India has today become the world’s trusted destination through ‘Made in India’ and ‘Local Goes Global’, but the Congress sees a problem in every Indian achievement,” Goyal said.

The Union Minister added that India is now gaining global respect, investment, and confidence after decades of stagnation, crediting the current government’s policies. “Under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, India is now earning the global respect, investment, and trust that the country has been waiting for decades. That is what Rahul Gandhi cannot tolerate,” he remarked.

The political exchange comes after Rahul Gandhi commented on X, criticising the Prime Minister’s overseas visit and suggesting that while India was facing economic challenges, PM Modi was engaged in diplomatic interactions abroad.

During his Italy visit, Prime Minister Modi gifted a packet of Parle’s ‘Melody’ toffees to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during a bilateral interaction in Rome. The gesture was widely shared online after Meloni posted a video of the exchange on social media.

The interaction between the two leaders has also contributed to the popularity of the internet term “Melodi,” a portmanteau of “Meloni” and “Modi,” coined by social media users to describe the visible camaraderie between the two leaders at international forums. The term gained traction following their warm interactions at events such as the G20 Summit and COP28 in Dubai, where Meloni shared a selfie video with PM Modi captioned “Good friends at COP28. #Melodi.”

The nickname has since evolved into a symbolic reference to strengthening India-Italy relations, particularly in areas such as trade, defence cooperation, and strategic partnership amid shifting global geopolitics.

Prime Minister Modi, currently on the final leg of a five-nation European tour, arrived in Rome on Tuesday. He met Prime Minister Meloni over dinner and also visited the historic Colosseum, where both leaders exchanged views on a wide range of global and bilateral issues. A formal bilateral meeting is scheduled for Wednesday.

Meloni also welcomed PM Modi’s arrival by sharing an old photograph of the two leaders at the Colosseum on X, writing, “Welcome to Rome, my friend!”

As diplomatic engagements continue in Italy, the political confrontation back home has intensified, with the ruling party and opposition trading sharp remarks over India’s global image and leadership narrative.