In response to Congressman Rahul Gandhi's recent comments making fun of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's habit of hugging foreign leaders, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh launched a scathing attack on Gandhi on Friday, calling the remarks "shameful" and "indecent" and claiming that they hurt India's reputation abroad.
Rahul Gandhi's comments about the Prime Minister and India's foreign policy, Singh told reporters, were "petty and condemnable".
He was quoted by news agency ANI as adding, "I had never seen such indecent and unimaginable conduct from any Leader of the Opposition."
Gandhi had "not only insulted the Prime Minister but also the international prestige of India," the Defense Minister continued. "I cannot even imagine that someone with the Gandhi surname can make such a shameful remark," Singh commented.
"I can say that today, thru this conduct, Rahul Gandhi has not only insulted Prime Minister Modi ji but has also insulted India's international reputation, and has torn apart the dignity of democracy and the position of Leader of the Opposition," the Defense Minister said.
Rahul Gandhi criticized PM Modi's diplomatic approach while speaking at the Rachnatmak Congress national convention in New Delhi on Thursday.
"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 before embracing Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit on stage.
The audience laughed when Gandhi said, "I haven't reached that stage yet," in response to Dikshit's quip, "You weren't hugging me thinking I was Meloni?"
BJP leaders accused the Congress leader of making an unacceptable and immature comment, which swiftly set off a political storm.
"Whatever resentment Rahul Gandhi ji may harbor in his heart toward the Prime Minister ji, such indecent remarks are utterly unacceptable," Rajnath Singh continued his harsh criticism of the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha.
