New Delhi, Sep 30 (NationPress) As the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi is currently traveling across South America. The BJP criticized this initiative on Tuesday, raising concerns about the excessive secrecy surrounding the trip. Nevertheless, various Opposition parties have rallied to support him, labeling the BJP's accusations as politically charged and unfounded.

BJP leader Tuhin Sinha expressed skepticism regarding the trip’s purpose and level of confidentiality. He remarked, "Rahul Gandhi is a peculiar leader who opts to travel to South America to observe Navratri instead of participating in the Navratri pujas occurring domestically. If this is indeed an official visit as Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera claims, then why all the secrecy? Why hasn’t he shared his South American itinerary yet?"

The BJP's comments prompted a swift rebuttal from the Opposition. They came forward to defend the LoP.

Shiv Sena (UBT) MP Priyanka Chaturvedi dismissed the BJP's assertion that Rahul Gandhi is “missing.”

She stated, "Claiming he is missing is inaccurate. It is inappropriate to adopt the BJP’s narrative on this matter. Congress, via its official spokesperson, has confirmed his presence in South America meeting with individuals. Labeling him as missing would only mislead the public."

Congress leader Rajesh Thakur also championed Rahul Gandhi's visit, contrasting his actions with those of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

"He is not shameless like the Prime Minister, who remains fixated on elections. Rahul Gandhi travels abroad to meet students and citizens, engaging in substantial dialogue. Unlike Modi, who rushes to election venues for photo opportunities, the BJP is anxious as their members Dilip Jaiswal, Sanjay Jaiswal, and Ashok Choudhary face scrutiny. Their secrets are being revealed, so they deflect attention by targeting Rahul Gandhi."

CPI(M) leader Hannan Mollah dismissed the BJP's remarks as foolish, stating, "Rahul Gandhi's foreign trip is unrelated to the Bihar polls. He was actively involved in the Bihar Yatra for an extended period, raising crucial matters such as vote rigging and the shortcomings of the Nitish government. I don't believe the BJP's criticism holds any weight; those comments are idiotic."

RLD leader Malook Nagar also weighed in, saying, "When elections approach and leaders travel abroad, they must consider how it impacts the perception of the alliance. Congress is the largest party, and Rahul Gandhi is its foremost leader, so such decisions should be made with careful thought."

Rahul Gandhi's ongoing South American journey is slated to involve interactions with political leaders, university students, and business community members across four countries. The head of the Congress media and publicity department, Pawan Khera, announced the trip on Saturday but did not specify the countries Gandhi will visit.

In a post on X, Khera mentioned, "The Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, Shri Rahul Gandhi, has commenced a visit to South America. He is set to engage with political leaders, university students, and business community members across four nations."

According to Congress, this marks Rahul Gandhi's inaugural overseas visit in September, aiming to enhance democratic, trade, and strategic relations. It builds upon the historic India-South America collaboration and strengthens solidarity among Global South nations.

During his time in Brazil and Colombia, Gandhi is expected to meet with university students and have discussions with presidents and senior leaders to fortify democratic and strategic ties. The party also emphasized that Gandhi will engage with business leaders to explore new opportunities, particularly as India seeks to diversify trade and partnerships amid ongoing US tariffs.