Congress video mocks Modi’s ‘Hugplomacy’, irked BJP demands Rahul Gandhi’s apology

Soon after PM Modi welcomed his Israel counterpart Benjamin Netanyahu with tight hugs, Congress on Sunday put up a video on its official Twitter handle mocking Prime Minister’s “Hugplomacy” with world leaders.

The slightly over one-minute video showed PM Modi hugging world leaders with a comment, “With Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu visiting India, we look forward to more hugs from PM Modi #Hugplomacy.”

The text templates in the video said, “PM Modi is awkward around world leaders and his hugs are even more awkward.”

Then the video pokes fun at Modi and shows him hugging US Donald Trump, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and French President Emmanuel Macron but not without captions.

With Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu visiting India, we look forward to more hugs from PM Modi! #Hugplomacy pic.twitter.com/M3BKK2Mhmf

— Congress (@INCIndia) January 14, 2018

Enraged BJP reacted strongly against the video and demanded Congress President Rahul Gandhi’s apology.

Union HRD Minister Prakash Javadekar said, “Cyrus Broacha making fun of the Prime Minister is different, the main opposition party’s move is different. This is the lowest the Congress has ever stooped. There is no sense and balance left in Congress (and) if there is any, they should apologise. We condemn this.”

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BJP Spokesperson Sambit Patra criticised the tweet and said, “The world has its eyes on Israeli PM Netanyahu’s visit to India and a tweet from India’s main opposition party on this line is unacceptable. First they called him (Modi) neech, then they asked him to sell tea and now this. Rahul Gandhi should apologise.”

“Rahul Gandhi talks of winning people by love and this is what PM Modi is doing…. winning the world by love. While Modi win you whine.” Patra tweeted.