‘I’m Not A Travel Agent’: Tharoor’s Response As BJP Targets Rahul Gandhi Over Vietnam Trip

News india ‘I’m Not A Travel Agent’: Tharoor’s Response As BJP Targets Rahul Gandhi Over Vietnam Trip

Last Updated:October 22, 2026, 08:57 IST

Rahul Gandhi travelled to Vietnam for four days amid the protests, drawing criticism from the BJP, which has previously questioned his foreign visits.

Congress MP Shashi Tharoor declined to comment on Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi’s foreign visit amid the ongoing protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar, telling reporters that he was “not a travel agent".

Tharoor was in Kerala when he was questioned about Gandhi’s decision to travel abroad during the protests.

Explaining why he would not comment on the matter, Tharoor said, “I am not a travel agent. There is no point in asking me that question. Why did I leave Delhi and come here now? Every person has certain responsibilities. So, I cannot comment on that."

Gandhi travelled to Vietnam for four days amid the protests, drawing criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has previously questioned his foreign visits during political confrontations.

The BJP alleged that Gandhi had gone on vacation after getting tired of “shouting lies" during the Delhi protests. The party also posted a video on X that purportedly showed the Congress leader aboard a flight to Vietnam and asked, “What is the agenda of Rahul Gandhi’s foreign tours?"

BJP leader Sambit Patra accused Gandhi of allegedly planning a regime change and claimed that he had travelled abroad to take “classes from George Soros".

“Their master, their kingpin, Rahul Gandhi went abroad to take coaching classes from George Soros and company on how to destroy India, how to bring about a regime change, and where they slipped up… They made every possible effort, but the people of India did not support them. The focus now is on what needs to be done and how to advance this entire agenda, so that India may be left in a state of ruin and a regime change can be brought about here," he said.

BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari also questioned whether Gandhi was travelling abroad for a break or to meet his “chaos collaborators".

Congress Defends Rahul Gandhi’s Foreign Visit

Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit defended Gandhi, pointing to his responsibilities as an individual and the Leader of the Opposition.

“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?" he said.

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Aanchal SinhaSub Editor

Aanchal is the Sub-Editor at News18.com, with more than four years of experience in national and international news. My work involves covering breaking news, politics, current affairs and developments...Read More

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