INDIA bloc allies SP, AAP slam Rahul Gandhi over Germany visit: 'Casual absenteeism'

Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi in Parliament during a debate over electoral reforms. The winter session will end on December 19.

In a rare and surprising attack, INDIA bloc allies Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) and Samajwadi Party (SP) slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for being more concerned about foreign visits, rather than giving priority to the country’s politics.

Taking a potshot at the leader of the opposition, AAP leader Priyanka Kakkar asked if this is result of born enlightenment.

“No one told the LoP that he could use Google Meet for a meeting with his NRI Congress prabharis in Germany at this time instead of skipping the winter session altogether? Is this casual absenteeism born of enlightenment, or a strategy to keep India trapped in a BJP vs Congress narrative?,” Kakkar said in a post on X.

Uttar Pradesh ally Samajwadi Party too mocked the Congress leader and raised concerns over his absence from the Parliament during the winter session.

“The Parliament is conducting its session and Rahul ji is concerned about foreign visits. Everyone is aware of how much he is concerned about the country’s politics," SP said.

BJP also sharpened its attack against Gandhi, questioning his “compulsion” to embark on “secret travels” abroad.

BJP leader Tuhin Sinha, in a press conference on December 11, claimed that the details of Gandhi’s “official or unofficial” trips to abroad are not shared , asking if he is “hiding” something.

Hitting out at Gandhi, Sinha said the senior Congress leader is a “leader of tourism” (leader of tourism) and “leader of partying”.

According to reports, Gandhi will be visiting Germany from December 15 to 20 and engage with the Indian diaspora. He is also schedule to meet German ministers, Indian Overseas Congress said.

The Parliament’s winter session will end on December 19.

Priyanka Gandhi slammed BJP for the attacks on Rahul, saying Prime Minister Narendra Modi stays outside India for “almost half of his working time”.