‘Chhichhora’: Devendra Fadnavis Tears Into Rahul Gandhi, Demands Apology Over PM Modi’s ‘Hug’ Remark – Delhi News Daily

Last Updated:August 14, 2026, 17:18 IST

Fadnavis slammed Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign policy, calling the Congress leader a “chichora.”

Devendra Fadnavis on Friday slammed Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on PM Modi’s foreign policy. (PTI file photo)

Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday slammed the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, over his remarks on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign policy, calling the Congress leader a “chichora” and demanding an apology from him and Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit.

Fadnavis was reacting to an incident at the Rachnatmak Congress national convention on Thursday, where Rahul Gandhi took a swipe at PM Modi’s diplomatic style by referring to his tendency to hug foreign leaders.

“Rahul Gandhi and Sandeep Dikshit must apologise to the nation. India has never seen such a ‘Chhichhora’ leader before. They have not only insulted PM Modi but also the Prime Minister of Italy,” Fadnavis said.

Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Hug’ Remark

While criticising PM Modi’s foreign policy, Rahul Gandhi said he did not understand where the Prime Minister got the idea that diplomacy meant hugging foreign leaders.

“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,” Rahul said.

He then hugged Sandeep Dikshit, prompting the Congress leader to jokingly ask, “You weren’t hugging me thinking I was Meloni?” Rahul responded, “I haven’t reached that stage yet,” drawing laughter from the gathering. Rahul subsequently returned to his criticism of the Prime Minister.

Polical Row After Rahul Gandhi’s ‘Hug’ Jibe

The hug sparked a political controversy, with the BJP accusing Gandhi of making an “immature” remark, while the Congress defended him, pointing out that he had not mentioned Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni by name.

Earlier, Union Education Minister Pralhad Joshi also hit back at Rahul Gandhi, asking him to “grow up” and accusing him of insulting the people of India by targeting the Prime Minister. “Rahul Gandhi, when will you grow up? Running India requires mature leadership, not amateur dramatics. Calling a democratically elected government ‘jokers and clowns’ proves you are out of your depth,” Joshi said.

Union Minister Giriraj Singh also stepped up his attack on the Congress leader, describing him as “mentally frustrated” and urging Sonia Gandhi to “get him help”.

“Rahul Gandhi appears to be mentally frustrated. His conduct has crossed all limits of decency. If Sonia Gandhi does not intervene and ensure that he receives appropriate help, the situation could become serious,” the Minister said.

Key Questions Answered

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What was the exact ‘hug’ remark by Rahul Gandhi?

Rahul Gandhi criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s foreign policy, stating, “I don’t know where he got this idea that foreign policy means hugging leaders”. He made this remark during the Rachnatmak Congress National Convention, where he also hugged fellow Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit to demonstrate his point.

How will this controversy impact future political debates?

The controversy surrounding Rahul Gandhi’s “hug” remark has sparked a wider debate over political discourse and the use of personal references in public life. This could lead to increased scrutiny of language used by politicians and a focus on maintaining dignity in political debate.

Could this incident affect Rahul Gandhi’s public image?

The incident could affect Rahul Gandhi’s public image as the BJP has strongly criticised his remarks, calling them “uncultured and indecent” and suggesting they reflect poorly on Indian democracy. Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis also called Gandhi a “chichora” and demanded an apology, stating that Gandhi had insulted both PM Modi and the Prime Minister of Italy.

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Manisha Roy

Manisha Roy is a Senior Sub-Editor at News18.com’s general desk. She comes with an experience of over 5 years in media industry. She covers politics and other hard news. She can be contacted at Manish…Read More

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