The BJP on Wednesday criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his upcoming trip to Germany, calling him the “Leader of Paryatan” and accusing him of skipping parliamentary duties. Gandhi, the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, is scheduled to visit Germany from December 15 to 20, during the ongoing Winter Session of Parliament, which runs until December 19.
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla said Gandhi is doing “what he does best,” implying that he prefers foreign tours over attending important sessions in Parliament. He also recalled that Gandhi was abroad during the Bihar Assembly elections and went on a jungle safari afterward. “When he loses elections, he asks why. But his focus is not with the people—it’s on travel. Only foreign tours. That is Rahul Gandhi,” Poonawalla added.
The BJP’s criticism highlights a long-standing pattern of mocking Gandhi for being absent from key political moments. Party leaders suggested that his frequent foreign trips show a lack of focus on parliamentary responsibilities and domestic politics.
On the other hand, the Indian Overseas Congress (IOC) clarified that the Germany trip is official and involves engagement with the Indian diaspora. Gandhi will be accompanied by IOC chairperson Sam Pitroda and is scheduled to meet German government ministers and legislators. The meetings are expected to strengthen India-Germany relations and provide a platform to discuss India’s global role.
Balwinder Singh, president of IOC Germany, said, “The Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi will visit Germany from December 15 to 20 to engage with the Indian community there.” Vikram Duhan of IOC UK added that the meetings will help strengthen exchanges between India and Germany while highlighting India’s global contributions.
The visit comes at a politically sensitive time in India, with the Winter Session still ongoing and state elections on the horizon. The BJP’s remarks underline the political debate over Gandhi’s absence from domestic parliamentary sessions while traveling abroad.
While critics see it as negligence, Congress officials describe the trip as part of diplomatic engagement and outreach with the Indian diaspora. The episode has added another layer to the ongoing political discourse on leaders’ responsibilities versus international representation.
