World · India Bureau
Tharoor defends Rahul Gandhi's foreign travel during opposition protests
Senior Congress leader Shashi Tharoor dismissed criticism of Rahul Gandhi's overseas trip while the opposition staged demonstrations in the national capital, stating he is not responsible for scheduling party members' movements.
LSN India ·
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday responded to questions about Rahul Gandhi's international travel during a period when opposition parties were mounting coordinated protests in New Delhi. When asked to explain Gandhi's absence from the capital amid the opposition mobilisation, Tharoor emphasised that he does not oversee the schedules of individual party leaders.
"I'm not a travel agent," Tharoor said, drawing a distinction between his role in party leadership and decisions regarding members' personal movements and commitments. The statement underscored the Congress's position that individual leaders maintain autonomous schedules despite party-level activities.
The Congress vice-president's remarks come as the opposition has intensified its presence in parliament and the national capital, staging protests and demonstrations on various legislative and policy matters. Gandhi's travel plans have occasionally drawn scrutiny from political opponents and media observers who question the timing of such absences during key political moments.
Tharoor's clarification reflects a common practice within Indian political parties, where senior leaders and members often maintain independent schedules for international engagements, family commitments, and other personal obligations concurrent with party activities in the capital.