Shashi Tharoor Defends Rahul Gandhi’s Overseas Trip Amid Protest, Says He Is ‘Not a Travel Agent’

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday said "I'm not a travel agent" after being questioned about Rahul Gandhi's alleged visit out of the country in the wake of the Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Gyanesh Kumar creating a row over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls in the capital.

Tharoor was interacting with reporters in the Keralam capital when he was asked why Gandhi had travelled abroad while the Opposition was protesting in the national capital, news agency PTI reported.

"I am not a travel agent. There is no point in asking me that question. Why did I leave Delhi and come here now? Every person has certain responsibilities. So, I cannot comment on that," Tharoor said.

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BJP attacks Rahul Gandhi for alleged foreign trip

The remarks by Tharoor came after the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) had lashed out at Gandhi after his anti-Gyanesh Kumar campaign alleging he was still travelling abroad to spread lies.

But Opposition said all protests have been suspended due to festive season.

On X, BJP shared a video of Gandhi allegedly sitting in a business-class cabin of an air flight. “Tired of telling lies, let me wander around Vietnam for a few days, who will know?” it said.

BJP spokesman RP Singh had criticized Gandhi for leaving the country again and again for participating in political campaigns. He said that he had already done a yatra in Bihar and then went abroad on a holiday for two months after which he returned.

BJP president Shazia Ilmi also raised doubts about Gandhi's dedication, saying that the political demonstrations are for him to take another break.

INDIA bloc demands that Kumar resign

The INDIA bloc had demanded Kumar's resignation on the issue of irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls and even called for a series of protest gatherings over the past few days. Gandhi was at the forefront of the protests and marches in Delhi, even as he and several other leaders were detained on several occasions.

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The alleged tour is also in wake of Gandhi’s involvement in the Congress' Goa Rakhon Yatra in the election-bound state. The report says that he will be away for four days.

Congress brushes aside BJP's criticism

The BJP had levelled accusations of an “unnecessary controversy” at the Congress.

He is only taking a break for two or three days; what's the issue with that? Congress general secretary KC Venugopal told a Malayalam news channel that a big protest will be organised by the INDIA bloc against Gyanesh Kumar on November 1st.

Congress veteran and former member of the Lok Sabha Sandeep Dikshit remarked that Gandhi's foreign trips had a student element to them, and wondered why the BJP was raising the issue of the trip.

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