Rahul Gandhi Departs for Vietnam Amid Controversy Over SIR Protests

New Delhi, October 20: Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi departed from New Delhi late Sunday night, heading to Hanoi, Vietnam. The official reason for his trip has not been disclosed. The BJP has raised questions regarding the timing of his travel, especially as the Congress party is currently protesting against the Election Commission.

BJP’s Response

BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari expressed on X that Rahul Gandhi is doing what he does best and questioned his presence abroad during the Navratri festival. Uttar Pradesh minister and Nishad Party leader Sanjay Nishad stated that to win elections, one must stay among the people, not repeatedly travel abroad.

Congress and Allies’ Rebuttal

Congress leader Rashid Alvi remarked that if Rahul Gandhi is abroad, the BJP should be pleased as it alleviates their concerns. Samajwadi Party MP Ramshankar Rajbhar added that his absence is a relief for the BJP, as he would have protested otherwise. Former MP Sandeep Dikshit noted that everyone travels abroad, and the BJP has the government machinery to track their whereabouts.

Background of the Controversy

The Congress party has been protesting against the SIR for several days. Rahul Gandhi has accused the Election Commission of “vote theft” and has demanded the resignation of Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. On October 9, the INDIA alliance submitted a memorandum to the President, calling for the resignation of the Chief Election Commissioner and a halt to the SIR.

On October 12, leaders from 10 parties approached the Supreme Court against the SIR; however, the registry pointed out about 14 deficiencies in their petition the following day. On October 13, Home Minister Amit Shah countered Rahul Gandhi’s claims on the same issue, advising him to engage in self-reflection.

Previous Concerns Raised by Rajasthan CM

The issue of Rahul Gandhi’s foreign trips was previously highlighted by Rajasthan Chief Minister Bhajanlal Sharma about five months ago. In a statement on social media, he mentioned that under Section 6 of the Foreign Contribution Regulation Act, it is mandatory to disclose information related to foreign hospitality. He raised questions about the lack of public disclosure regarding 54 foreign trips despite the need for government approval and related details.

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Ganpat Singh Chouhan: My name is Ganpat Singh Choughan. I am an experienced content writer with 7 years of expertise in the field. Currently, I contribute to Daily Kiran, creating engaging and informative content across a variety of categories including technology, health, travel, education, and automobiles. My goal is to deliver accurate, insightful, and captivating information through my words to help readers stay informed and empowered.