A fresh political row erupted in the national capital after posters carrying photographs of Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi and the word “missing” appeared at several locations across Delhi.
The posters were spotted in prominent areas, including Firozshah Road, a key political corridor in the city. It was not immediately known who had put up the posters.
The development comes amid speculation over Rahul Gandhi’s reported foreign visit and follows a series of attacks by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has accused the Congress leader of being absent during important political and parliamentary events.
The controversy escalated a day after BJP leaders questioned Rahul Gandhi’s absence from public and political engagements.
BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla launched a sharp attack on the Congress MP, alleging that he frequently prioritises foreign travel over political responsibilities.
Taking a swipe at Gandhi, Poonawalla remarked that LoP should stand for “Leader of Paryatan and Partying” rather than Leader of the Opposition.
According to the BJP leader, Gandhi remains unavailable whenever Parliament is in session, elections are underway, or the Congress party requires organisational support.
During his criticism, Poonawalla also compared Rahul Gandhi’s reported travel record with that of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
He claimed that while Modi has spent decades continuously serving as Chief Minister and Prime Minister without taking leave, Rahul Gandhi is frequently on foreign trips.
The BJP spokesperson alleged that Gandhi spends more time travelling abroad than engaging in political work in India and accused him of being in a constant “vacation mode.”
The BJP further sought explanations regarding the funding of Rahul Gandhi’s overseas travel.
Poonawalla alleged that Gandhi had spent large sums on foreign visits and questioned the source of funding for such trips. He also claimed that some of the organisations associated with Gandhi’s overseas engagements promoted narratives that were critical of India.
The BJP leader alleged that Gandhi often uses foreign platforms to criticise the country and questioned why details of such visits were not publicly disclosed.
At the time of filing this report, the Congress party had not issued an official response to either the “missing” posters or the allegations levelled by BJP leaders.
The appearance of the posters has added a new dimension to the ongoing political sparring between the BJP and the Congress, with both parties expected to continue trading charges in the run-up to the upcoming Parliament session and key political battles ahead.
