The Bharatiya Janata Party on Thursday questioned the source of funds for Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's 54 trips abroad over the past 22 years, alleging a significant discrepancy between the likely expenditure and his declared income. Speaking at a press conference, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra claimed that a bottom-up estimation places the total spending for Gandhi and his companions at approximately Rs 60 crore. This covers visits to the United States, Latin America, Europe, and various Asian countries. In contrast, Gandhi's income over the last decade, as per documents submitted for Lok Sabha elections, was only Rs 11 crore.
Legal Questions Raised
Patra highlighted legal concerns under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act, stating that any Member of Parliament, judge, or government official must seek permission from the Ministry of Home Affairs if their visits are hosted or funded by a foreign agency. He added that if the trips were at personal expense, they must be disclosed in income tax returns. Furthermore, any undisclosed gifts or expenditures abroad could attract the Black Money Act of 2015. Patra demanded that the Congress party disclose the funding sources and relevant documents for Gandhi's travels, emphasizing that this is not a rhetorical exercise but a serious inquiry into the conduct of the Leader of Opposition, who aspires to be Prime Minister.
Congress Responds
Hitting back, Congress spokesperson Jairam Ramesh dismissed the allegations as a diversion from pressing national issues. He stated that the real concerns are economic collapse and foreign policy setbacks. Another Congress leader, Manickam Tagore, urged the BJP to address unemployment, inflation, border failures, and the weakening economy instead of running a smear campaign against Rahul Gandhi.
