‘I’m Not a Travel Agent’: Shashi Tharoor Deflects Queries on Rahul Gandhi’s Foreign Trip
NEW DELHI: Congress leader and Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor found himself at the center of a political crossfire on Wednesday when asked to respond to questions regarding the foreign travel plans of the Leader of the Opposition, Rahul Gandhi. As the Congress and other opposition parties continue their intense protest against the Election Commission regarding the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls, Tharoor remained firm, refusing to entertain questions about Gandhi’s whereabouts.
“I am not a travel agent. There is no point in asking me that question,” Tharoor stated when pressed by reporters. He emphasized that his own presence in the capital was dictated by professional responsibilities, adding that he could not comment on the personal travel arrangements of his party colleague.
BJP Intensifies Criticism
The query regarding Gandhi’s travel follows a series of barbs from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has capitalized on reports suggesting the Congress leader is currently on a trip to Vietnam. The BJP’s social media cells were quick to circulate footage allegedly showing the Leader of the Opposition on a flight, framing the timing of the trip as a dereliction of duty while the party is ostensibly engaged in protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Senior BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain joined the offensive, using the occasion to mock Gandhi’s recent political activities. Hussain remarked that Gandhi likely needed a reprieve after his recent, highly visible protests in the capital.
“Rahul ji was very tired. He worked very hard. Sometimes he went to a police station, sometimes he sat inside All India Radio, sometimes he lay down on the road… He works so hard that he gets exhausted,” Hussain quipped, suggesting that the trip was an escape from the political consequences of his recent actions.
Congress Hits Back
In response to the BJP’s mounting criticism, other voices within the Congress party came to Gandhi’s defense, arguing that the ruling party is attempting to manufacture a controversy out of a private matter. Senior Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit dismissed the BJP’s outrage as hypocritical and misplaced.
“Who travels where and when… what is the issue? Do others not travel abroad?” Dikshit asked, defending Gandhi’s right to manage his own schedule. He further asserted that Gandhi’s international engagements often involve productive interactions with academic institutions and global intellectuals, contrasting this with his view of the current government’s transparency.
Dikshit also pivoted the conversation toward Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s past conduct, highlighting a breach in political decorum. “We also have a tradition that the Prime Minister does not travel abroad when the Lok Sabha is in session. But our PM broke that tradition. Why does no question arise at that time?” he challenged.
The war of words underscores the deepening divide in Parliament. While the opposition continues to demand accountability from the Election Commission over alleged irregularities in the SIR exercise, the BJP remains focused on targeting the credibility of the Congress leadership, turning every political skirmish into a broader debate on national priorities and political responsibility. As the stalemate in the capital continues, it remains clear that the narrative surrounding these high-profile travels will remain a point of contention for the foreseeable future.
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