During his recent visit to the United States, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi found himself at the center of a political storm. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has heavily criticized Gandhi for meeting US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, a politician known for her “anti-India” stance. This meeting took place as part of Gandhi’s interactions with the Indian diaspora, university students, and US lawmakers.
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla took to social media platform X (formerly Twitter) to voice the party’s concerns. He questioned why Gandhi chose to engage with Omar, a politician who has previously introduced anti-India resolutions in the US Congress and opposed the abrogation of Article 370 in India. Poonawalla highlighted Omar’s visit to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) in 2022 and her meetings with Pakistani leaders, including former Prime Minister Imran Khan, as examples of her alleged anti-India actions.
Shri @RahulGandhi met with U.S. lawmakers at the Rayburn House Office Building, Washington, D.C.
Attendees:
•Hosted by Congressman Bradley James Sherman
•Congressman Jonathan Jackson
•Congressman Ro Khanna
•Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi
•Congresswoman Barbara Lee… pic.twitter.com/zVUJz5VmrW— Congress (@INCIndia) September 10, 2024
In a scathing post, Poonawalla asked, “Why did Rahul Gandhi have to meet her? Why is he engaging with the most radical anti-India elements on every foreign trip? In BJP virodh (opposition to BJP), is desh virodh (opposition to the country) okay?”
Senior BJP leader and media cell in-charge Amit Malviya also condemned Gandhi’s meeting with Omar. Malviya accused the Congress party of openly working against India’s interests, stating, “India’s Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi meets Ilhan Omar in the USA, a Pakistan-sponsored anti-India voice, a radical Islamist, and an advocate of independent Kashmir.” He further implied that even Pakistani leaders would hesitate to be seen with someone like Omar.
After spewing venom against Sikhs & running down India on foreign soil now Rahul Gandhi meets & engages with anti India Ilhan Omar – 1) Ilhan had introduced anti India resolutions in US Congress 2) She has been against abrogation of Art 370 3) She violated India’s sovereignty &… pic.twitter.com/3YndaPSLa4
— Shehzad Jai Hind (Modi Ka Parivar) (@Shehzad_Ind) September 11, 2024
Ilhan Abdullahi Omar, an American politician of Somali descent, has been serving as the US Representative for Minnesota’s 5th congressional district since 2019. She is a member of the Democratic Party and is known for her vocal stance on international issues, including India’s policies in Jammu and Kashmir.
Omar’s 2022 visit to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) drew sharp criticism from India. During her visit, she met with Sultan Mahmood Chaudhary, the president of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (as Pakistan refers to PoK), and expressed concerns about India’s abrogation of Article 370 in August 2019, which stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its special status. India condemned the visit, calling it a violation of its sovereignty.
In addition to the controversy over his meeting with Omar, Gandhi made headlines for his remarks about Sikhs during an address to the Indian diaspora in Virginia. He highlighted concerns about whether Sikhs in India would continue to have the freedom to wear turbans and practice their religion without interference.
At a separate event at Georgetown University, Gandhi reiterated his call for a caste census in India, emphasizing the need to understand the socio-economic conditions of lower castes. He also commented on the reservation system, stating that the Congress party would consider scrapping reservations when India becomes a “fair place,” implying that inequalities must be addressed first.
The BJP’s criticisms of Gandhi’s meeting with Ilhan Omar have sparked a wider debate about the Congress leader’s international engagements and the implications of his interactions with foreign politicians who have taken critical stances on India’s internal affairs. As the controversy unfolds, questions about the balance between opposition politics and national interests continue to dominate the discourse.
