Thiruvananthapuram: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday declined to comment on Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi’s foreign trip amid criticism from the BJP over his absence during protests in Delhi against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
Responding to reporters in Thiruvananthapuram, Tharoor said, “I am not a travel agent. There is no point in asking this question.”
Emphasising that individuals had their own responsibilities, the Congress leader said he did not wish to comment on Gandhi’s travel plans. “I have just arrived here from Delhi myself. If someone were to ask me why I came, what should I say?” he asked.
The BJP has criticised Gandhi for travelling abroad while Congress leaders were protesting in Delhi over the Election Commission and the SIR exercise. Taking a swipe at the Congress leader, the BJP alleged that Rahul Gandhi had gone on a vacation after becoming “exhausted from shouting lies”.
Tharoor’s remarks came amid the political exchange over Gandhi’s absence during the protests, with the Congress MP choosing not to elaborate on the reasons for the Leader of the Opposition’s foreign visit.
