‘Who Would Even Find Out?’ BJP Takes Swipe at Rahul Gandhi Over Vietnam Trip

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has targeted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his reported four-day trip to Vietnam, questioning his absence amid protests against alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. The BJP shared a video on X that purportedly showed Gandhi travelling in a business-class cabin, prompting the Congress to defend his right to take personal time off.

In its post, the BJP took a sarcastic swipe at the Leader of the Opposition, writing: “I'm tired of spreading lies... Let me go roam around Vietnam for a few days... Who would even find out!”

The video shows a man wearing a blue T-shirt and AirPods seated in an aircraft cabin. The man appears to resemble Gandhi, while another passenger is heard identifying him as the Leader of the Opposition. However, the footage does not independently establish the man's identity or confirm that he was travelling to Vietnam.

Rahul Gandhi Reportedly Leaves for Vietnam

According to The Indian Express, citing Congress leaders, Gandhi left for a personal trip abroad and was learnt to have travelled to Vietnam for four days.

The reported visit comes after Gandhi participated in the Congress's Goy Rakhon Yatra, or Save Goa March, in poll-bound Goa. He walked for around two kilometres alongside party leaders during the march. Goa is scheduled to hold Assembly elections next year.

The BJP's criticism centred on the timing of the reported trip, as the Congress and other opposition parties continue to protest against alleged irregularities in the electoral roll revision process.

BJP's Jibe Comes Amid Opposition Protests Over SIR

The Congress and other INDIA bloc constituents have been protesting against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over allegations of electoral malpractice linked to the SIR exercise.

On October 12, Congress and other INDIA bloc leaders held a ‘March for Democracy’ towards the Supreme Court and submitted a petition concerning the revision of electoral rolls. The protests followed allegations of irregularities in the exercise, which opposition parties have repeatedly raised.

The BJP used the ongoing demonstrations to question Gandhi's reported absence, accusing him of taking a break after allegedly spreading misinformation.

Congress Defends Rahul Gandhi's Personal Trip

The Congress rejected the BJP's criticism, maintaining that Gandhi was entitled to travel during his personal time.

Speaking to news agency ANI, Sandeep Dikshit, chairperson of Rachnatmak Congress, said Gandhi had a personal life alongside his responsibilities as the Leader of the Opposition.

“Rahul Gandhi has a personal life. Besides, he has his own responsibilities as the Leader of the Opposition. Every time he goes, he does something productive,” Dikshit said.

He added that Gandhi's overseas visits sometimes included meetings with students at Yale University and discussions with intellectuals, which he claimed benefited the country.

Congress Questions PM Modi's Media Interactions

Dikshit also hit back at the BJP by questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi's interactions with the press.

“Rahul Gandhi speaks to the press. Does our Prime Minister do that?” he asked.

He further criticised Modi over a foreign visit during last year's Monsoon Session of Parliament, drawing a comparison with the BJP's remarks about Gandhi's reported travel to Vietnam.

The political exchange comes as the Congress and its INDIA bloc allies continue to challenge the electoral roll revision process, while the BJP has used Gandhi's reported absence to target the opposition leader.