At a press conference in New Delhi on Oct 23, BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi slammed Rahul Gandhi for allegedly meeting “questionable individuals” during overseas trips, calling the conduct “anti‑India propaganda.”
Trivedi cited Gandhi’s recent visit to Vietnam and other trips to London, Yale and Vietnam, claiming Gandhi met undisclosed locations and “suspicious people.” He pointed to a passage in former US President Barack Obama’s book A Promised Land that he said reflected poorly on Gandhi’s preparedness.
Congress defended the leader, with party head Sandeep Dikshit arguing that foreign travel is a routine duty for opposition leaders and that Gandhi’s interactions with students and intellectuals abroad strengthen India’s democratic dialogue. Dikshit also highlighted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s own overseas trips during parliamentary sessions.
The BJP’s comments come amid ongoing scrutiny of foreign‑funded organisations and political activism in India, and raise questions about the propriety of political leaders’ overseas engagements when the Lok Sabha is in session.
In response, Congress has announced a formal rebuttal and is reportedly preparing a statement to contest the allegations. A parliamentary committee may be convened to examine Gandhi’s travel records, while the media continues to monitor the fallout.