BJP Refutes Rahul Gandhi's Claims About Foreign Dignitaries

BJP Responds to Rahul Gandhi's Allegations

New Delhi: On Thursday, the BJP labeled Rahul Gandhi's assertion that the government prevents foreign dignitaries from meeting him as a "blatant lie." They pointed out that he has met several foreign leaders this year, including the prime ministers of New Zealand and Mauritius.

BJP's chief spokesperson, Anil Baluni, took to X to share images of Gandhi's encounters with these dignitaries, stating, "The Ministry of External Affairs arranges meetings for visiting dignitaries with government officials and bodies."

He further explained that the organization of meetings outside of government is contingent upon the visiting delegation's preferences.

This response followed Gandhi's claim that the government instructs visiting foreign dignitaries to avoid meeting him due to its "insecurity."

The Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha remarked that it has traditionally been the case for visiting dignitaries to meet the LoP, a practice he accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the Ministry of External Affairs of neglecting.

Baluni, who serves as a Lok Sabha MP, noted that Gandhi has met at least five foreign leaders in the past year and a half, including several heads of state.

He listed meetings with former Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina on June 10, 2024, Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on August 21, 2024, Mauritian Prime Minister Navinchandra Ramgoolam on September 16, 2025, and New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon on March 8, 2025.

Additionally, Baluni mentioned that Gandhi met the Prime Minister of Vietnam on August 1, 2024, sharing images of these encounters on X.

Congress leaders Sonia Gandhi and Priyanka Gandhi were present at some of these meetings, as evidenced by the photos shared by Baluni.

"These images cannot be fabricated, Rahul Gandhi ji," Baluni asserted, claiming they demonstrate that the LoP is "simply lying."

He further accused Gandhi of damaging India's reputation whenever he travels abroad, undermining the nation's democracy and Constitution.

BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra criticized Gandhi for attempting to tarnish the country's image with "baseless" allegations against the government, particularly on the day Russian President Vladimir Putin was visiting India.

"This does not reflect well on India... We expect better from Rahul Gandhi. As the LoP, he should act responsibly," Patra stated to reporters in the Parliament House complex.

Patra emphasized that there is no reason for the government to feel insecure about Rahul Gandhi or his family, remarking, "Absolutely not. He is overestimating himself."

He also expressed concern over Gandhi's comments regarding the "another perspective" he claims to present to foreign leaders.

"Is this the perspective he wishes to share with the world, that India's economy is failing and there is no development?" the BJP leader questioned.