Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has decided to temporarily pause his ongoing Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra, spanning from February 26 to March 1, to travel to the United Kingdom for delivering two lectures at the University of Cambridge.
According to Jairam Ramesh, Congress In-charge for Communications, Rahul Gandhi will resume his Yatra on March 2, following his prior commitment to deliver 'special lectures' at his alma mater.
Rahul Gandhi has been known to frequent foreign universities as a speaker, often drawing attention for his criticisms of the Narendra Modi government while abroad.
However, his current overseas visit during the election season has raised eyebrows among some of the party's coalition partners, who question the timing of his UK visit amidst ongoing seat-sharing discussions for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls.
Critics and political analysts have also questioned the strategic rationale behind the 'Nyay Yatra' in the lead-up to the 2024 elections, suggesting that the party's focus should be on strengthening public outreach and support mobilization.
Rahul Gandhi's previous foreign visits have garnered attention primarily for his direct attacks on the Modi government, rather than for scholarly discourse. His remarks abroad, particularly regarding the state of democracy in India, have triggered controversy and backlash domestically.
Past incidents, such as his 2022 statement in the UK calling for foreign intervention to address perceived democratic challenges in India, have elicited strong reactions from the BJP, accusing him of tarnishing India's reputation and compromising its sovereignty.
As Rahul Gandhi prepares for his upcoming session at Cambridge University, concerns similar to those raised in the past regarding his foreign remarks have surfaced on social media.
Given the timing of his visit just before the Lok Sabha elections, it is anticipated that Rahul Gandhi will utilize the platform to launch fresh criticisms against the central government.
Observers are keen to see whether Rahul Gandhi will maintain his confrontational approach or if there will be a strategic shift in narrative that could potentially benefit the BJP.
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