BJP targets Rahul Gandhi over alleged Vietnam trip amid protests, Congress hits back

The BJP has targeted Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over his reported visit to Vietnam amid ongoing protests against the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, sharing a purported in-flight video of the Congress leader and questioning his commitment to the agitation.

The ruling party posted the video on its official X account on Monday, suggesting that Gandhi had taken a break from political activities after leading demonstrations against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The Congress rejected the criticism, maintaining that Gandhi was entitled to travel abroad and accusing the BJP of unnecessarily politicising his personal engagements.

𝗕𝗝𝗣 𝘀𝗵𝗮𝗿𝗲𝘀 𝗶𝗻-𝗳𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗵𝘁 𝘃𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗼

The video, reportedly recorded by a fellow passenger, purportedly shows Gandhi seated inside an aircraft. However, the footage does not independently establish the destination of the flight.

Taking a sarcastic swipe at the Congress leader, the BJP suggested in its social media post that he had grown tired of making allegations and decided to visit Vietnam.

BJP spokesperson RP Singh alleged that Gandhi frequently travelled abroad after participating in political campaigns.

Referring to an earlier political march in Bihar, Singh claimed that Gandhi had subsequently spent an extended period overseas and questioned whether his latest reported trip followed a similar pattern.

BJP leader Shazia Ilmi also criticised Gandhi, alleging that he had taken another break after a relatively short period of political activity.

She questioned his seriousness about the Opposition's campaign over alleged electoral irregularities and accused him of treating political responsibilities casually.

𝗖𝗼𝗻𝗴𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘀 𝗱𝗲𝗳𝗲𝗻𝗱𝘀 𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗲𝗶𝗴𝗻 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁𝘀

Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit dismissed the BJP's criticism, questioning why Gandhi's overseas travel should become a political controversy.

"Who travels where and when... what is the issue. Do others not travel outside?" Dikshit asked.

He said Gandhi continued to discharge his responsibilities as Leader of Opposition while participating in international engagements, including interactions with students, academics and the media.

Dikshit also referred to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign visits, questioning why similar objections were not raised when the Prime Minister travelled abroad during parliamentary sessions.

The Congress maintained that overseas engagements should not automatically be interpreted as an abandonment of political responsibilities.

𝗙𝗼𝘂𝗿-𝗱𝗮𝘆 𝘃𝗶𝘀𝗶𝘁 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁𝗲𝗱

According to reports citing Congress leaders, Gandhi is understood to have travelled to Vietnam for a four-day personal visit during a pause in the INDIA bloc's protest programme for the festive period.

The reported journey followed his participation in the Congress's Goy Rakhon Yatra in Goa on Sunday, where he joined party leaders and workers in a march.

No detailed official itinerary for the overseas visit has been released.

𝗥𝗼𝘄 𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗱 𝗦𝗜𝗥 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘁𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘀

The controversy comes amid continuing political confrontation over the Election Commission's Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

Gandhi and other INDIA bloc leaders have accused the poll panel of irregularities in the revision exercise and demanded accountability from Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.

The Election Commission and the BJP have rejected allegations of wrongdoing.

Opposition parties have organised demonstrations and marches in Delhi in recent weeks, with Gandhi playing a prominent role in the campaign.

The BJP's latest criticism has added another dimension to the political confrontation, shifting attention from the electoral roll dispute to the Congress leader's reported travel plans.