Hours after Sandeep Dikshit made derogatory remarks about Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in the presence of a ‘giggling’ Rahul Gandhi, Alt News co-founder Mohammed Zubair came to the shameless defence of the Congress leader.
Zubair attempted to divert the public discourse from the sexist banter of the Congress duo to social media accounts sharing light-hearted memes about Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Giorgia Meloni.
The fake news peddler from the Islamist propaganda portal, Mohammed Zubair, wrote, “This is how right-wing influential accounts like @theskindoctor13 followed by several BJP leaders, tweet on Modi & Meloni. It is the right wing who started the trend of linking a 49-year-old Italian PM with a 75-year-old India.”
To shield his political masters, Zubair attempted to pin the blame on Dr Neelam Singh (who popularly goes by the username ‘theskindoctor13.’
On Friday (14th August), Singh responded to the Alt News co-founder and explained to him the difference between internet banter and explicit sexual innuendos of Sandeep Dikshit.
“Zubair doesn’t understand the difference between internet subculture and institutional political rhetoric. Online posts like mine, and millions of others, are part of internet pop culture. They are triggered by the bait these leaders themselves throw, and function as lighthearted, non-serious internet banter around diplomatic interactions,” he emphasised.
Zubair doesn't understand the difference between internet subculture and institutional political rhetoric.
— THE SKIN DOCTOR (@theskindoctor13) August 14, 2026
Online posts like mine, and millions of others, are part of internet pop culture. They are triggered by the bait these leaders themselves throw, and function as… https://t.co/AbbstZqssH
Singh pointed out, “Using that banter to justify explicit sexual innuendos, like “Meloni samajh kar to nahi pakad liya”, aimed directly at mocking foreign relationships, making vulgar comments about a foreign PM, and disparaging our own PM’s personal conduct on a formal platform, is absurd.”
“Also, equating the conduct of social media accounts to whitewash the indecency of elected leaders speaking at an official political gathering is just a lazy, low-IQ attempt to give politicians a free pass for conduct that wouldn’t even pass standard workplace decorum. Leaders are expected to elevate political discourse, not reduce public conventions to the lowest common denominator of social media trolling,” he concluded.
What did the Congress leaders say
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. Gandhi was trying to mimic PM Modi, who is often welcomed with hugs by the heads of countries he visits on his foreign trips.
Looking at Gandhi’s theatrics, the audience burst into laughter. Gandhi further mocked PM Modi, saying that foreign policy for him only means hugging people. Meanwhile, 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.
What a clown… Does he fit for the LOP post?
— Mr Sinha (@Mrsinha) August 13, 2026
Someone tell him that Hugging foreigners is any day better than secretly bedding with them. pic.twitter.com/bLgIjnrZp5
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.
