During the Rachnatmak Congress National Convention held in New Delhi today, a high-profile exchange involving senior Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and Sandeep Dikshit triggered substantial criticism over its tone and appropriateness. Speaking at the event, Gandhi was mocking PM Modi and India’s foreign policy in his usual baffoonish manner, taking aim at the diplomatic style of the current administration.

As his speech progressed, the interaction took a highly theatrical turn on stage. Suddenly, Gandhi got into an overly performative mode and called out to Sandeep Dikshit, who was present on the stage, spreading his arms, gesturing to him for a hug. As soon as Dikshit turned back, Gandhi quickly jumped towards him and hugged him in an awkward manner. The gesture appeared to be a deliberate satire aimed at the Prime Minister’s well-known diplomatic greetings, as Gandhi was trying to mimic PM Modi, who is often welcomed with hugs by the heads of countries he visits on his foreign trips.

The physical display immediately drew a vocal reaction from those attending the event. Looking at Gandhi’s theatrics, the audience burst into laughter. Capitalizing on the moment, Gandhi further mocked PM Modi, saying that foreign policy for him only means hugging people. However, the exchange shifted further when Dikshit interrupted him and made a sly and sexist remark, “Did you hug me thinking I am Meloni?” Both Dikshit and Gandhi wickedly laughed out loud following the distasteful remark.

Critics and political observers quickly condemned the exchange, arguing that the Congress leaders reduced the warm and cordial equation shared by India and Italy, which is reflected in the interactions of PM Modi and Italian PM Meloni, to demeaning, sexist banter. The incident has raised broader questions about the standard of language used during formal political conventions.

Media Responses and Context Surrounding Past Controversy

The behaviour displayed by the Congress politicians on the stage was an exhibit of the deep-rooted sexism within the Congress party. Sitting in the audience was Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate, who was convulsing with laughter at her leader’s derogatory gesture towards a woman.

For many political commentators, this reaction recalled previous public controversies involving the party's communications team. However, this was no surprise coming from Shrinate, who herself made sexist slurs at BJP MP Kangana Ranaut. The incident occurred during the election season when a post on Instagram, which was later deleted, Congress National Spokesperson Supriya Shrinate asked, “Kya bhav chal raha hai Mandi me koi batayega? (Will someone tell me what the rate system in Mandi is?)” with a particularly racy picture of Kangana Ranaut.

The social media post sparked immediate outrage across political lines. After facing huge backlash for the reprehensible post from her verified social media handles, Shrinate later issued a clarification to defend herself. In her clarification video, she claimed that ‘someone who had access to her account’ posted it, adding that the person responsible for making the post will be held accountable.

This was not an isolated instance of harsh rhetoric directed at political opponents during that period. Shrinate was not the only one to display the utterly sexist and disrespectful behaviour towards a political rival woman; Congress functionary HS Ahir had also abused Ranaut by referring to her candidature from Mandi as “Mandi se Rndi.”*

Internal Dynamics and Historical Grievances Within the Organization

The unchecked sexism within the Congress Party is not unleashed only on women outside the party; women within the party have also been victims of this. Among the most notable cases was that of former Congress spokesperson Priyanka Chaturvedi, who had a long association with the party and was a strong voice of the party, also fell victim to the sexism within the Congress.

The issue dates back to an event in Uttar Pradesh where some Congress functionaries misbehaved with Chaturvedi during a press conference in Mathura in September 2018. Following her complaint, the workers were initially suspended by the party but later reinstated in April 2019. The organizational decision to bring the individuals back into the fold led to significant internal tension. Disappointed with her party’s stance, Chaturvedi tendered her resignation in 2019, stating that her services in the organisation were not valued and that staying in the party would come at the cost of her dignity and self-respect.

The episode involving Priyanka Chaturvedi also highlighted how concerns over women’s dignity can become secondary to political expediency within the Congress ecosystem. The fact that the workers who allegedly misbehaved with her were initially suspended but later reinstated only deepened the sense that disciplinary action could be compromised when party interests were involved. Chaturvedi eventually left the Congress, citing the erosion of her dignity and self-respect.

Examining Leadership Accountability and Broader Political Discourse

Interestingly, the top leadership of the Congress Party, including Rahul Gandhi, did not even condemn the sexist and anti-women activities within the party, let alone adopt a tough stance against such elements.

The pattern is therefore difficult to dismiss as a one-off incident or an isolated lapse by an individual leader. From Rahul Gandhi and Sandeep Dikshit’s crude public exchange to the past remarks and conduct involving women political opponents and even Congress leaders, the recurring episodes raise uncomfortable questions about the party’s attitude towards women.

More importantly, the absence of a consistently forceful response from its top leadership risks normalising precisely the kind of behaviour that political parties routinely claim they oppose.

The latest episode involving Rahul Gandhi, Sandeep Dikshit and Giorgia Meloni therefore raises a larger question: why does political opposition to PM Modi so often descend into personal, sexist and demeaning commentary about women?