SRINAGAR, May 23, 2026 : Jammu and Kashmir Congress president Tariq Hameed Karra on Friday criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi over a viral video showing him gifting a packet of toffee to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni, alleging that such actions lowered the dignity of the Prime Minister’s office.
Addressing reporters in Srinagar, Karra termed the gesture “unbecoming” of the leader of a country like India and accused the Prime Minister of reducing the stature of the office through what he described as “casual governance” and “theatrical presentation.”
“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 said.
Referring to the widespread circulation of the video on social media, the Congress leader claimed the incident had sparked memes both nationally and internationally.
“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. To present himself in theatrical ways in foreign countries lowers the PM’s position,” he added.
Responding to questions regarding criticism within the Congress party over its alliance with the Jammu & Kashmir National Conference (NC) in Jammu and Kashmir, Karra said the decision was taken by the party’s central leadership in the larger interest of the INDIA bloc alliance.
“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,” he said.
Karra asserted that no disciplined Congress leader should challenge decisions taken by party president Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi.
“If anyone has said it, he is directly challenging the decision of the top leadership,” he remarked.
The J&K Congress chief further said that every political party has “a frustrated and dejected lot” that sometimes voices dissent after not finding political space.
“It happens in other parties like the NC, PDP and the BJP as well,” he added.
