Rome | Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi for gifting her 'Melody' toffees, reviving the light-hearted "Melodi" wordplay associated with the two leaders on social media.
In a social media post, Meloni shared a video in which she could be heard saying, "Prime Minister Modi brought as a gift, a very, very good toffee -- Melody." "Thank you for the gift," the video caption read.
Modi, who was also seen in the video uploaded on Wednesday, burst into laughter as Meloni jokingly referred to the "Melody" toffee while showcasing the gift.
The hashtag "Melodi", a blend of Modi and Meloni's names, was coined by the Italian prime minister during the COP28 in Dubai in 2023 and later went viral on social media following the warm interactions between the two leaders at global events.
"Good friends at COP28," Meloni had posted on social media with hashtag "Melodi", captioning a photograph with the Indian leader.
Modi, who arrived in Rome on Tuesday, is on the final leg of his five-nation tour to the UAE, the Netherlands, Sweden, Norway and Italy from May 15-20.
He is visiting Italy at the invitation of Meloni to further strengthen bilateral cooperation in areas such as trade, defence, clean energy and technology.
The two leaders have maintained close engagement in recent years, with Meloni also visiting India for the G20 Summit in 2023.
New Delhi | Shares of Parle Industries Ltd saw frenzied buying on Wednesday, surging 5 per cent to hit the upper circuit limit, thanks to a sudden investor interest in the stock after Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni posted a video of Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifting her a packet of Melody toffees.
The company's stock had a muted beginning to the trade but came into the limelight soon after Meloni shared a video in which she could be heard saying, "Prime Minister Modi brought as a gift, a very, very good toffee -- Melody."
Investors wasted no time and flocked to the counter to buy the stock.
Shares of the firm jumped 5 per cent to Rs 5.25 -- the highest trading permissible limit for the day -- on the BSE. On volume terms, 8.57 lakh shares of the firm were traded on the BSE during the day.
But, there is a catch!
Investors mistook Parle Industries for the maker of Melody toffees.
Parle Products, the FMCG major, is the manufacturer of Melody toffees and is not listed on the stock exchanges.
The other famous brands of Parle Products are Parle-G, Monaco, KrackJack, Hide & Seek, Kaccha Mango Bite, among others.
Parle Industries Ltd is a diversified commercial services provider, engaged in the business of infrastructure & real estate, and paper, waste paper and allied products.
New Delhi | An economic storm is raging but Prime Minister Narendra Modi is handing out candy in Italy, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Wednesday after Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni posted a video of Modi gifting her a packet of Melody toffees.
Several other Congress leaders also attacked Modi saying he continues his PR even when the economy is suffering.
However, Union Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal hit back at Gandhi, accusing him of "hating India" and refusing to tolerate the "global respect" the country has garnered under Modi's leadership.
Gandhi, who is on a visit to his constituency Raebareli and Amethi, said on X, "This isn't leadership, it's a gimmick."
At a time farmers, labourers, traders and others in the country are all in tears, the prime minister is laughing and making reels while BJP folks are clapping along, the former Congress president said in his post in Hindi.
"An economic storm is raging over our heads, and our prime minister is busy handing out candies in Italy!" he said.
Meloni shared a post on X thanking Modi for the gift and uploaded a short video clip in which the Indian prime minister is seen presenting her with a packet of Parle's 'Melody' toffees.
"Prime Minister Modi brought us a gift -- a very very good toffee," Meloni said in the video as Modi shows a packet of toffees, saying "Melody".
"Thank you for the gift," Meloni said in her post.
Addressing party workers and supporters in Amethi, Gandhi said the country was in crisis and that farmers, labourers, traders and youth were all struggling with serious problems, but the prime minister "left them helpless" and was "making reels in Italy while offering toffees".
"What kind of joke is this," he asked.
Speaking to reporters while boarding a car, Gandhi said, "The youth are in depression, NEET has been cancelled, gas and petrol prices are continuously rising, inflation is increasing, and Modi ji is eating toffees with (Giorgia) Meloni. This is the country's condition."
In his speech in Amethi, Gandhi said, "Before going to Italy and meeting Meloni, Modi gave a speech in Hindustan and said - an economic storm is coming, don't go abroad.
"And he himself, with a Melody toffee in his pocket, took his expensive airplane and went to Italy. Then he fed Meloni the toffee and made a reel. See... what kind of prank is being played with the people of the country."
Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge attacked Modi over issues of "rising" prices, unemployment, paper leaks, "dampening" investment and "sinking" Rupee, saying the prime minister continues his PR even as the economy is suffering.
"Modi ji wants the public to enjoy the 'melody' of speeches while surviving the 'misery' of his government's loot," the Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha said in a post on X.
He used a poster with the heading "Looting is MELODY for BJP, but MISERY for citizens!" along with his post on X.
Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said this was not an appropriate gift from a head of a government.
"I understand at the age of 75, Prime Minister Modi feels fatherly love towards most 49 year olds - including Italian Prime Minister Meloni. So he carried toffees for her.
"But this isn't appropriate gift from a head of state. It's Cringe Pro Max!," she said in a post on X.
Asked about the gifting of toffees to the Italian prime minister, Congress leader Pawan Khera said the country is in bad shape and every section of society is suffering but the prime minister is putting out pictures of his visit abroad.
"You have to become an example yourself. You can't ask me to sacrifice, when I see nothing has changed in your life," Khera said, citing Modi's message to people to defer buying gold and foreign travel ahead of his visit.
The Congress also said on X, "Narendra Modi Ji, the country is in crisis. Stop distributing candies. Start taking action."
Reacting to Gandhi's comments, Goyal said the Congress leader has a problem with every Indian achievement and cannot tolerate the global recognition the country is receiving under Modi's leadership.
"Why does Rahul Gandhi hate India and everything made in India so much," he asked in a post on X.
Earlier, Goyal wrote on X, "India's TOFFEE TALE would surely be melody to the ears! Exports have grown nearly 166% since 2013-14."
BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari also said on X, "MELODI just got a little SWEETER".
