The Kerala units of the Congress and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) clashed on Sunday over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with Pope Francis during the G7 Summit. The controversy ignited when the Congress posted a picture of PM Modi with the Pope on its X handle, accompanied by the sarcastic comment, "Finally, the Pope got a chance to meet God!"

In response, BJP state chief K Surendran accused the Congress’ Kerala unit of being run by “radical Islamists or Urban Naxals.” He criticized the Congress for posting derogatory and humiliating content against nationalistic leaders and questioned whether party chief Mallikarjun Kharge and senior leader Rahul Gandhi endorsed such comments.

Following Surendran's criticism, the Congress replied sarcastically on X, wishing “better luck next time” to Surendran and others from “Modi ka parivar.” The Congress later issued a detailed statement, asserting that it is not the tradition of the Indian National Congress to insult or disparage any religion, religious leaders, or idols.

This exchange highlights the ongoing political tensions and the contentious nature of social media interactions between the two parties.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday extended an invitation to Pope Francis to visit India, expressing his admiration for the pontiff’s dedication to serving the people. The two leaders met warmly at the G7 Summit's Outreach session in Italy, where they joined other world leaders to discuss topics including Artificial Intelligence, Energy, Africa, and the Mediterranean.