New Delhi, Aug 14 (IANS) Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda on Friday hit out at Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign policy, saying it was unfortunate for the country's democracy to have such an LoP. Taking to social media platform X, Nadda criticised Gandhi for his comments and said, "All that was left now was to witness such a Leader of Opposition; this is the misfortune of the country's democracy. For the Congress too, what a source of sorrow it must be that they have to accept Rahul Gandhi as their leader."

Naddaa's remarks came after Gandhi took a swipe at Prime Minister Modi's foreign policy during the Rachnatmak Congress Organising National Convention in New Delhi on Thursday. Using a mock hug with senior Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit, Gandhi sought to ridicule what he described as the Prime Minister's style of engaging with foreign leaders. The Congress leader also referred to the BJP and the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) as a "bunch of jokers" who, according to him, have no understanding of India.

Addressing the gathering, Gandhi said he would demonstrate what foreign policy meant for PM Modi. He then stretched out his arms and walked towards Dikshit for a hug. "I don't know where he (PM Modi) got this idea from. Strange ideas get into people's heads. He thinks this is foreign policy," Gandhi said. Dikshit joined in the exchange by bringing Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni into the joke.

"You weren't hugging me thinking I was Meloni?" Dikshit quipped, drawing laughter from the audience. Responding to the remark, Gandhi said, "I haven't reached that stage yet." The exchange was a reference to PM Modi's public interactions with several world leaders, including Meloni, with whom he shared a viral "Melodi" moment. Gandhi used the gesture to mock what he portrayed as the Prime Minister's approach to diplomacy, making the act of hugging the central theme of his criticism of the government's foreign policy.

--IANS