BJP MP Khandelwal questions Rahul Gandhi's foreign trips during key events
Synopsis
BJP leaders turned Navratri and Dussehra into a political flashpoint by alleging that Rahul Gandhi flew abroad during the festivities — a pattern they describe as a recurring habit during major national moments. The claims, made via social media posts and press statements, remain unverified but reflect the BJP's broader strategy of framing the Congress leader as disengaged from India's cultural and political life.
Key Takeaways
BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal on 19 October called Rahul Gandhi's foreign trips 'largely mysterious' and demanded he disclose whom he met over the past two to three years.
Khandelwal alleged Gandhi's protest calls were 'completely fake,' given his reported travel abroad.
BJP National Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari posted on X questioning Gandhi's absence during Navratri , alleging he was on a holiday.
SBSP chief Om Prakash Rajbhar referenced Dussehra traditions in a social media post targeting Gandhi over the reported trip.
The BJP's remarks came a day after Gandhi accused the party of electoral irregularities at a rally in Margao, Goa .
The details and purpose of Gandhi's reported trip have not been independently verified; the claims rest solely on BJP leaders' posts and statements.
BJP Member of Parliament Praveen Khandelwal on Monday, 19 October 2026, alleged that Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, repeatedly travels abroad during significant national events, calling his foreign visits 'largely mysterious.' The remarks came amid a broader political offensive by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leaders targeting Gandhi over a reported foreign trip during the ongoing Navratri festivities.
Khandelwal's Allegations
Speaking to reporters, Khandelwal said, 'Whenever there is a major event in the country, Rahul Gandhi often travels abroad at such times. His foreign trips are largely mysterious.' He added that Gandhi, as LoP, bore a public responsibility to disclose where he had travelled over the past two to three years and who he had met. 'These are serious questions,' the BJP MP stated.
Khandelwal further alleged that Gandhi's actions were contradictory — publicly calling for protests in India while himself travelling abroad. 'This clearly shows that his protest movement is completely fake and has no substance,' Khandelwal claimed.
BJP Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari Joins In
Earlier on the same day, BJP National Spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari also targeted Gandhi over the reported trip, posting on social media platform X that Gandhi was 'back to doing what he does best: Taking a break and enjoying a holiday.' Bhandari questioned Gandhi's absence from India during Navratri and alleged he was meeting what he termed 'chaos collaborators' abroad. It is important to note that Bhandari's post, by itself, does not establish the purpose or destination of the reported trip.
SBSP Chief Om Prakash Rajbhar Also Takes Aim
Separately, Uttar Pradesh Minister and Suheldev Bharatiya Samaj Party (SBSP) chief Om Prakash Rajbhar also targeted Gandhi on X, referencing the traditional burning of Ravana effigies during Dussehra celebrations. In his post, Rajbhar wrote, 'Rahul Ji, I heard that you left for a foreign trip last night. Couldn't you witness the burning of your friend Ravana right before your eyes?' The remarks drew on the festive symbolism of Dussehra to amplify the political point.
Context: BJP-Congress Political Exchanges
The attacks on Gandhi come a day after he accused the BJP leadership of orchestrating alleged electoral irregularities at a rally in Margao, Goa. The BJP leaders' remarks are part of a continuing pattern of political exchanges between the two parties, frequently centring on public appearances, political activity, and allegations concerning electoral processes. Notably, the claims regarding Gandhi's travel were presented solely through the leaders' social media posts, and neither post independently establishes the details or purpose of the reported trip.
Point of View
Designed to land on social media rather than Parliament. What's missing from the coverage is Gandhi's own response or any verified detail of the trip itself; without that, the story is entirely one-sided. The broader pattern of using festive calendars to attack the Opposition leader points to how both parties now compete as much on symbolic terrain as on policy.
NationPress
19 Oct 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
What did BJP MP Praveen Khandelwal allege about Rahul Gandhi?
Khandelwal alleged that Rahul Gandhi frequently travels abroad whenever a major national event occurs, calling the visits 'largely mysterious.' He demanded that Gandhi, as Leader of the Opposition, publicly disclose his foreign travels and meetings over the past two to three years.
Why did BJP leaders criticise Rahul Gandhi's reported trip during Navratri?
BJP leaders argued that Gandhi's reported absence from India during the Navratri and Dussehra festivities was politically and culturally inappropriate for the Leader of the Opposition. They also alleged the trip exposed a contradiction between his domestic protest calls and his actual presence in the country.
What did BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari post on X about Rahul Gandhi?
Bhandari posted on X alleging that Gandhi was travelling abroad for a vacation during Navratri, questioned his absence from India, and alleged he might be meeting what Bhandari termed 'chaos collaborators.' The post did not provide verified details about the trip's destination or purpose.
What was SBSP chief Om Prakash Rajbhar's remark about Rahul Gandhi?
Rajbhar posted on X referencing the Dussehra tradition of burning Ravana effigies, saying Gandhi had reportedly left for a foreign trip the previous night and sarcastically noting that he could not witness the burning. The remark was widely shared as part of the broader BJP-allied criticism.
What was the political backdrop to these attacks on Rahul Gandhi?
The BJP leaders' remarks came a day after Gandhi accused the BJP leadership of orchestrating alleged electoral irregularities at a rally in Margao, Goa. The exchanges are part of a sustained pattern of political targeting between the two parties over public conduct and political activity.
