'Modi lowered dignity of PM's chair': J-K Cong on ‘Melody toffee’ video

Jammu and Kashmir Congress chief Tariq Karra on Friday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi lowered the dignity of the office he holds.

Referring to the viral video showing Prime Minister Modi gifting a packet of toffee to his Italian counterpart, Giorgia Meloni, Karra said such actions were unbecoming of a country's leader.

''If we have to talk about Modi's casual governance, then it can be talked about in volumes. But Modi has lowered the esteem of the PM's chair so much with his hugs and kisses that he has now stooped low by distributing toffees. We do not like this. He is the prime minister of 140 crore people. He represents an institution,'' Karra told reporters here.

The Congress leader said the viral movement triggered a wave of memes online.

''Memes are being created at the national and international level. When people of India see this, they would feel ashamed about this buffoonery and jingoism. And to present himself in theatrical ways in foreign countries, it lowers the PM's position,'' Karra added.

Asked about some Congress leaders questioning the party's alliance with the National Conference (NC) in J-K, Karra said the top leadership decided it.

''The leadership of Congress in J-K was not in favour of the alliance. But our central leadership decided that it was in the larger interest because the parties in the alliance were part of the INDIA bloc as well. I do not think that any disciplined leader would challenge the decision of (Malikarjun) Kharge and (Rahul) Gandhi. If anyone has said it, he is directly challenging the decision of the top leadership,'' he said.

Karra said every party has ''a frustrated and a dejected lot which does not get a space and then goes on to talk like that''.

''It happens in other parties like the NC, PDP and the BJP,'' he added.

(This story has not been edited by Devdiscourse staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)