The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has lashed out at Congress Leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi for being seen in Vietnam during the time of protests against the government and his previous series of trips.
The BJP posted a video on Twitter/X claiming that Gandhi was on a plane to Vietnam. The party commented in a sarcastic post saying that maybe he felt the protests were getting old out of him.
The BJP wrote, posting the video, which was reportedly “recorded by a fellow passenger”, “Too tired of spreading lies. Let me tour Vietnam for a while, who would get to know”.
BJP spokesman RP Singh also faulted Gandhi, asserting that he has been visiting the respective countries after political activities in India on a regular basis. Singh spoke about Gandhi’s visit to Bihar and claimed that after that he went to Europe on holiday for two months. He wondered whether Gandhi could have visited Vietnam some time during this period, and he may be travelling there again.
There was no independent confirmation of the claims regarding Gandhi’s most recent journey in the report.
Congress Questions BJP’s Criticism
The Congress had brushed aside the criticism of BJP saying Gandhi’s abroad trips may not be politicized.
Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit however questioned why the Opposition leader’s travel plans was being singled to him stating that people travel abroad and for various purposes as well. He also emphasized when Gandhi met with students in Yale University and London, discussed with intellectuals and took part in interviews for the media.
Dikshit highlighted the foreign trips Gandhig took and questioned why Modi doesn’t go abroad when parliament is in session.
Political standoff over foreign visits
The exchange comes amid the ongoing political jockeying that is happening between the BJP and Congress, with the ruling party asking about the presence of Gandhi at the protests of opposition parties and opposition leaders accusing the BJP of creating a ‘needless cause’ of Gandhi’s trip.
The controversy also reignited debate about the public obligations of politicians as well as the scrutiny they will receive regarding their calendars. But, it is yet to be confirmed whether with the above information Gandhi did visit the specific destination or not and what were the circumstances of the journey?