Congress, BJP lock horns over Rahul Gandhi's Vietnam trip amid mourning

The Congress and BJP on Monday locked horns over Congress MP Rahul Gandhi's trip to Vietnam during the seven-day state mourning for former PM Manmohan Singh. Attacking the Congress, the BJP on Monday alleged that Gandhi "exploited" former PM Dr Manmohan Singh's death for his "expedient politics" and flew to Vietnam to ring in the New Year while the country is mourning his demise. "While the country is mourning PM Dr Manmohan Singh's demise, Rahul Gandhi has flown to Vietnam to ring in the new year," BJP's IT cell head Amit Malviya said on X. "The Gandhis and Congress hate Sikhs. Never forget that Indira Gandhi desecrated the Darbar Sahib," Malviya added.

The Congress, however, defended Gandhi's trip as "private" and termed BJP's objections as "diversion" politics. The government has declared a seven-day state mourning from December 26, 2024 to January 1, 2025 and stipulated that "there will be no official entertainment during the period of state mourning." Official programmes and ceremonies have been cancelled throughout this period.

Hitting back at the BJP, Congress leader Manickam Tagore asked what problem did the BJP have if Gandhi was travelling "privately" as Udit Raj remarked this did not mean the Congress leader was partying. "When will the Sanghis stop this 'take diversion' politics? The way Modi denied Dr Saheb a place for cremation on the Yamuna banks and how his ministers cornered Dr Saheb's family is shameful. If Mr Gandhi travels privately, why does it bother you? Get well in the New year," Tagore wrote on X.