“I AM NOT RAHUL GANDHI’S TRAVEL AGENT”: SHASHI THAROOR REFUSES TO EXPLAIN LOP’S FOREIGN VISIT AS BJP STEPS UP ATTACK
October 21, 2026
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, OCTOBER 21: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday declined to explain the reasons behind Rahul Gandhi’s latest foreign visit, responding sharply to reporters who questioned the timing of the Lok Sabha Leader of the Opposition’s overseas trip amid political protests in New Delhi.
“I am not a travel agent. There is no point in asking me that question,” Tharoor told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram, the constituency he represents in the Lok Sabha. He added that every individual had certain responsibilities and said he could not comment on Gandhi’s decision to travel abroad.
Tharoor’s remarks came as the Bharatiya Janata Party intensified its criticism of Rahul Gandhi over his reported absence from the national capital during protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
According to reports citing sources, Gandhi has travelled to Hanoi, the capital of Vietnam. The Congress, however, has not issued an official statement or published an itinerary for the visit, which has been described as private.
The BJP has seized on the reported trip to question Gandhi’s priorities. BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari criticised the Congress leader in a post on social media platform X, suggesting that Gandhi was taking a break and going on holiday after participating in the political confrontation in Delhi. Bhandari also alleged that Gandhi spent more time relaxing than working.
Rahul Gandhi had recently taken part in protests targeting Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. His reported overseas visit has since become another point of contention between the BJP and the Congress, with the ruling party questioning the timing of his travel while opposition protests continue.
Tharoor, who was in Kerala when journalists sought his response, did not provide any further details about Gandhi’s plans. His remarks made clear that he would not speak on behalf of the Congress leader or offer an explanation for the visit.
Meanwhile, the Congress-led INDIA bloc is preparing to hold a major rally at Delhi’s Ramlila Maidan on November 1. The rally is expected to take place against the backdrop of the opposition’s continuing political campaign over electoral rolls and the Election Commission.
The controversy over Gandhi’s reported foreign trip has added another layer to the political exchange between the BJP and the Congress. While the BJP has used the visit to question the opposition leader’s priorities, Tharoor has declined to engage with the demand for an explanation, leaving the reasons and itinerary of Gandhi’s private travel undisclosed.
