New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday (October 23) alleged that Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi met “questionable
individuals” during overseas trips. BJP spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi also accused Gandhi of engaging in what he termed “anti-India” propaganda upon returning to India. Addressing a press conference, Trivedi also criticised the Congress MP's leadership of the grand old party, alleging that his political approach had weakened the party and raised concerns about the dignity of the office of the Leader of the Opposition. “Whenever Rahul Gandhi travels abroad, he visits undisclosed locations and meets with questionable individuals. Upon his return to India, he then engages in anti-India propaganda,” Trivedi said. “I am saying it again: he goes to unknown places, meets suspicious people, and here he comes and engages in anti-India propaganda,” he added.
#WATCH | Delhi | BJP National Spokesperson, Dr. Sudhanshu Trivedi says, "The Congress party's core philosophy is defined by plunder while in power, sowing division within society, and harboring deep-seated hatred toward Indian religion and culture. At the helm of this is a leader who, unfortunately, also serves as the Leader of the Opposition in the country. This is a misfortune—perhaps even more so for the Congress party than for the nation itself, as he has currently vanished from the country; according to reports, he is wandering somewhere in Vietnam. He has become a puzzle—both to the nation and to his own party. While Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s track record is full of achievements, Rahul Gandhi’s track record is fraught with problems for the Congress party. Today, the Congress party has not only jeopardised its own future but has also put the nation’s constitutional framework at stake."
— ANI (@ANI) October 23, 2026
The BJP leader's remarks came amid a political confrontation over Gandhi's overseas engagements and allegations by the ruling party that the Congress leader was associating with individuals whose positions, according to the BJP, were contrary to India's interests.
Trivedi also questioned Gandhi's conduct during political protests, referring to incidents involving demonstrations near the Prime Minister's residence and the entry of protesters into Akashvani Bhavan.
“Only in India is there a case where the Congress party goes to that extent, destroying the dignity of the post of the Leader of the Opposition, and even after that, they get no success,” he said.
Taking aim at Gandhi's leadership, Trivedi alleged that the Congress had repeatedly attempted to project him as its principal face despite what he described as a series of electoral setbacks.
#WATCH | Delhi | National Spokesperson of BJP, Dr. Sudhanshu Trivedi says, "All the efforts made to launch Rahul Gandhi have now left the Congress in a very dangerous position—a position where it finds itself aligned with anti-national forces. Whenever Rahul Gandhi goes abroad, he embarks on these mysterious, undisclosed trips, during which he meets with suspicious individuals. He travels to undisclosed locations and meets with suspicious people."
— ANI (@ANI) October 23, 2026
“As the honourable Prime Minister remarked, there is an attempt to repeatedly launch a 'failed product.' In doing so, the Congress party has put not only its own organisation but also the nation's constitutional framework at stake,” he said.
Trivedi further alleged that Gandhi had made contradictory claims about receiving support from officials and political figures during his protests. He questioned the basis of such assertions and accused the Congress leadership of treating them as evidence of wider political backing.
The BJP spokesperson also referred to former US President Barack Obama's book A Promised Land, citing a passage describing Gandhi following their meeting during Obama's 2010 visit to India. Trivedi argued that the passage reflected poorly on Gandhi's political preparedness and challenged the Congress to respond to the former US president's observations.
The BJP leader's remarks also came amid questions raised by his party about alleged links between foreign-funded organisations and political activism in India.
The Congress defended Gandhi's overseas visits, accusing the BJP of needlessly targeting him. Party leader Sandeep Dikshit questioned the criticism of the Leader of the Opposition's travel and pointed to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's foreign trips during parliamentary sessions to counter the BJP's allegations.
“Who travels outside? When do they travel outside... Do others not travel outside on this day? Rahul Gandhi is an individual, the Leader of the Opposition; he has duties. He interacts with students at Yale University, interacts with students in London and meets the intellectuals there... He even does press interviews — something which the Prime Minister doesn't do. So, what issue does the BJP have with this? We also have a tradition that the Prime Minister doesn't travel abroad when Lok Sabha is in session. But our PM broke that tradition. Why does no question arise at that time?” Dikshit told ANI.
The BJP has been targeting the Congress MP over his alleged trip to Vietnam.
(With inputs from ANI)
