BJP MP Sambit Patra alleged that the Congress leader did not disclose many of his visits abroad and demanded answers from him on these “mystery trips”.
| Photo Credit: PTI
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Thursday raised questions about Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi’s foreign visits, alleging that their estimated expenses did not match his declared income during the corresponding time span. The party demanded that Mr. Gandhi and his party disclose the source of funding for those trips.Countering the charge, Congress communication chief Jairam Ramesh accused the BJP of asking about Mr. Gandhi’s foreign visits to divert attention from pressing national concerns, including what he called an “economic collapse” under Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the government’s failures on foreign policy issues.He called Mr. Modi a “compromised PM” who was “thoroughly exposed domestically and internationally”.Earlier, at a press conference, BJP MP and spokesperson Sambit Patra asked whether Mr. Gandhi had got prior permission of the Union Home Ministry under the Foreign Contribution (Regulation) Act for 54 foreign trips, “especially those that were foreign-funded or foreign-hosted”. “If no such permission was taken and the trips were at personal expense, then his bank statements, credit card records, and forex purchase trail should be made public,” he said.Mr. Patra claimed that the trips’ estimated cost was nearly ₹60 crore, while Mr. Gandhi’s declared income in the past 10 years was about ₹11 crore. He said under the Representation of the People Act, the Congress should disclose the audited accounts submitted to the Election Commission of India if the party bore the expenses. If the details were disclosed in income tax filings, the record should be made public, he said.“The footage that circulated on social media on May 3, 2026, relating to an undisclosed visit, also included Oman,” he said, accusing Mr. Gandhi of undermining the Yellow Book security guidelines.PM Modi’s call to stop foreign travel comes as spending in this area has already been falling“In the Central Reserve Police Force’s letter to Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge dated September 10, 2025, six undeclared trips were mentioned. Should the Oman trip also be added to that list, and if not, then by this evening the Congress party should make public the complete itemised funding statement, itinerary, and expenditure details of that trip, otherwise it will also be counted as an undeclared ‘mystery trip’,” said Mr. Patra.“In some instances (during Mr. Gandhi’s foreign visits), he has given statements that are against the national interest...regarding the meeting held in Oman, specifically in view of the Greater Nicobar Project, there exists a massive cohort collaborating with China to devise ways to undermine India’s interests. What exactly is Rahul Gandhi’s role in this?,” he asked. He alleged that the Congress leader had also gone to Samarkand, Uzbekistan, on a “mystery trip”.Reacting sharply, the Congress communication chief said: “His (Prime Minister) claims about being a ‘Vishwaguru’ have been completely punctured. He is capitulating to China day in and day out. So all being done to keep the attention away from here. To talk about Mr. Rahul Gandhi’s foreign trips in the past, Mr. Patra should find better topics on which to put his stake of being a minister.”Congress social media head Supriya Shrinate accused the BJP of raising the issue of foreign trips to divert attention from the NEET exam paper leak and the growing shortage of fuel and cooking gas. Congress MP Manickam Tagore said the country wanted answers on jobs, farmers, Manipur and China. “BJP should first answer questions on unemployment, inflation, falling consumption, border failures and the weakening economy instead of running a daily smear campaign against Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi ji.” he said. Published - May 14, 2026 02:20 pm IST
