BJP mocks Rahul Gandhi over reported Vietnam trip amid SIR protests, Congress hits back
New Delhi: The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday mocked Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his reported visit to Vietnam, taking a dig at him amid opposition protests against alleged irregularities in the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls.
The BJP shared a video on its official X account that purportedly showed Gandhi sitting in the business-class cabin of a flight. The party accused him of taking a break after spreading what it called lies.
“I’m tired of spreading lies… Let me go roam around Vietnam for a few days… Who would even find out!” the BJP wrote in the post.
”झूठ फैलाते-फैलाते थक गया… कुछ दिन वियतनाम घूम आता हूं… किसी को क्या ही पता चलेगा! 😜”
— BJP (@BJP4India) October 19, 2026
The video shows a man wearing a blue T-shirt and AirPods seated inside the aircraft. The man appears to resemble Gandhi while another passenger is heard identifying him as the Leader of the Opposition. However, the footage does not independently confirm the man’s identity or establish that he was travelling to Vietnam.
According to a report by The Indian Express, citing Congress leaders, Gandhi had left for a four-day personal trip abroad and was reportedly in Vietnam.
BJP targets Rahul Gandhi amid SIR protests
The BJP’s remarks came amid protests by the Congress and other INDIA bloc parties over the SIR exercise and allegations of electoral malpractice.
On October 12, opposition leaders held a ‘March for Democracy’ towards the Supreme Court and submitted a petition concerning the revision of electoral rolls. The INDIA bloc has also organised protests against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar.
Gandhi’s reported trip followed his participation in the Congress’s Goy Rakhon Yatra or Save Goa March, in poll-bound Goa. He walked alongside party leaders during the event ahead of the state’s Assembly elections next year.
Congress defends Gandhi’s personal trip
The Congress hit back at the BJP’s criticism, saying Gandhi was entitled to travel during his personal time. Speaking to news agency ANI, Sandeep Dikshit, chairperson of Rachnatmak Congress, said Gandhi had responsibilities as the Leader of the Opposition but also had a personal life.
“Rahul Gandhi has a personal life. Besides, he has his own responsibilities as the Leader of the Opposition. Every time he goes, he does something productive. Sometimes, he meets students of Yale University; sometimes he meets intellectuals. He always does something that benefits the country,” Dikshit said.
He also questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s engagement with the media, asking, “Rahul Gandhi speaks to the press. Does our Prime Minister do that?” Dikshit further took a swipe at Modi over his foreign visit during last year’s Monsoon Session of Parliament.