A day after a video of Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifting a packet of the popular Indian candy Melody to Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni during his visit to Rome went viral, the Congress on Thursday launched a sharp attack on the Prime Minister, accusing him of being insensitive to the hardships faced by people in India amid rising inflation and the ongoing oil and gas crisis triggered by the Middle East conflict.
The chief Opposition party targeted PM Modi over the gesture, saying the Prime Minister appeared more focused on optics and public relations abroad while people back home were struggling with soaring prices of essential commodities and fuel.
Sharing a video on its X handle, the Congress mocked the Prime Minister with the slogan “M for Melody”, saying the “M” did not stand for “Mehngai” (inflation), despite the growing burden on ordinary citizens.
“The people of the country are spending their lives in poverty. Modi is distributing ‘Melody’ in Italy,” the Congress captioned the post.
The remarks came against the backdrop of concerns over global energy supplies following tensions in the Middle East and the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping route through which nearly 20 per cent of the world’s oil supply passes.
In the video, the party alleged that the country was facing a severe economic crisis while the Prime Minister was busy handing out candies overseas. It accused him of ignoring pressing domestic concerns such as inflation, unemployment and rising living costs.
“The nation is grappling with a severe economic crisis. What is the Prime Minister doing? He has become Santa Claus and is handing out toffees in Italy,” the video said.
The Congress also referred to PM Modi’s earlier foreign visits, claiming he “hid behind the teleprompter in Sweden” and “sneaked away after a Norwegian reporter posed a question to him”, before reaching Italy “to hand out toffees”.
The video further said, “He cannot say M for Mehngai (inflation), but M for Melody”.
” pic.twitter.com/UYJdMMNxKM— Congress (@INCIndia) May 20, 2026
Listing issues allegedly affecting the public, the Congress said prices of fuel, gas cylinders, milk, bread and medicines had become unbearable for common people.
It claimed farmers, young people, women, labourers and small traders were all under financial stress while the Prime Minister continued with “photo shoots” and “reels”.
“And the PM is making reels sporting a smile, doling out toffees and the BJP supporters are clapping for him,” the video added. “This is not leadership, but drama”.
The BJP had not immediately responded to the Congress attack till the filing of this report.
On Wednesday, Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi intensified his attack on PM Modi over the latter’s viral “Melodi” moment with Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in Rome, accusing him of indulging in “theatrics” while the country faces economic distress.
The criticism followed PM Modi gifting Meloni a packet of Melody toffees, referencing the viral “Melodi” nickname popular on social media.
Addressing an event in Uttar Pradesh’s Amethi, Rahul Gandhi said an “economic storm” was looming over India while the Prime Minister was “busy distributing toffees in Italy”.
He alleged that farmers, youth, women, labourers and small traders were suffering amid economic challenges, while PM Modi was “making videos as if everything is a joke”.
The BJP hit back strongly, with party leader Nitin Nabin calling Gandhi’s remarks “deeply regrettable” and reflective of an “anarchic mindset”.
The “Melodi” phenomenon gained traction during previous global summits and was revived during PM Modi’s just-concluded Rome visit.
Source: India Today
