‘His new anti-India friend’: BJP condemns Rahul Gandhi’s photo op with US lawmaker who opposed Article 370 move

The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Wednesday (September 11) slammed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for meeting US Senator Ilhan Omar and others known for their controversial stance against India during his visit to India.The photo went viral on social media, adding fuel to the criticism over Gandhi’s comments and remarks during his four-day trip abroad.

In its latest tirade against Gandhi, the saffron party has targeted Ilhan Omar, alleging that Gandhi has added another person to his list of “anti-India” friends. The party alleged that Gandhi is indulging in “dangerous and nefarious” activities by reaching out to people like her.

“This is the first time in the history of India that a leader of an opposition party has met a lawmaker who has made anti-India statements and expressed goodwill. He met US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, who is notorious for her anti-India stances and remarks,” Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national spokesperson Sudhanshu Trivedi said at a press conference at the party headquarters.

He said the MP had previously indulged in “childish behaviour” but “is now indulging in dangerous and mischievous behaviour”.

Omar previously called the abrogation of Article 370 of the Constitution in Jammu and Kashmir “deeply concerning” and angered India by visiting Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in 2022. The United States later said the visit was sponsored by the Pakistani government.

“There is a proverb that says ‘King James I was the wisest fool in Christendom’. In my opinion the same applies to Rahul Gandhi of the Congress,” Trivedi said, also showing a picture of Gandhi with journalist Mushfiqul Fazal, who had asked about Arvind Kejriwal’s arrest at a White House press conference. “Gandhi takes a selfie with Rahul.”

“Omar is one of the US lawmakers who was accompanied by the Pakistan government on its visit to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK). He has made several statements which directly or indirectly indicate sympathy for the Muslim Brotherhood and the ISI (Pakistan’s intelligence agency),” he added.

Gandhi seems to have already found himself mired in a quagmire of his own making, facing intense criticism over his views on unemployment in India, the RSS and comments on the Sikh community that were backed by pro-Khalistani activist Gurpatwant Singh Pannun – all expressed during his unofficial visit to the US. Over the past three days, the BJP has lashed out at Gandhi, accusing him of “spewing ill will” against India during his trip abroad.

Gandhi is on a four-day visit to the US from September 7. Earlier in the day, he held a meeting with a group of lawmakers at the US Capitol.

“Congress is openly hostile to India.”

Senior BJP leader Amit Malviya accused the Congress of “openly standing against India” while Union Minister Kiren Rijiju also slammed Gandhi for his meetings and comments in the US. The BJP also questioned why Congress leaders felt the need to meet Omar and asked whether he should be allowed to indulge in “desh virod” in addition to “BJP virod”.

During his visit to the US, Gandhi interacted with students and faculty of the university, as well as the Indian diaspora, and met with US lawmakers. The meeting, held at the Rayburn House Office Building in Washington DC, was hosted by Congressman Bradley James Sherman and was attended by US Representatives Jonathan Jackson, Ro Khanna, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Barbara Lee, Shri Thanedar, Jesus G. “Chuy” Garcia, Ilhan Omar, Hank Johnson and Jan Schakowsky.

“Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi met in the US with Pakistan-backed anti-India radical Islamist and Kashmiri independence advocate Ilhan Omar. Even Pakistani leaders will be more cautious about being seen in the company of such radical elements. The Indian Congress is now openly opposed to India,” Malviya said on X.

Following the meeting with Omar, BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla told X, “After spewing venom against Sikhs and denigrating India on foreign soil, now Rahul Gandhi is meeting and negotiating with anti-India Ilhan Omar.”

Reiterating Omar’s anti-India stance, he wrote, “1) Ilhan has introduced anti-India resolutions in the US Congress. 2) She has opposed the abrogation of Article 370 of the Indian Constitution. 3) She has violated Indian sovereignty and visited Pakistani-held Kashmir on a Pakistan-sponsored trip. 4) She has met Imran Khan and other similar figures to discuss ‘Islamophobia’ in India. 5) She has been instrumental in spreading hatred against Hindus.”

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He further asked, “Why did Rahul Gandhi have to meet her? Why is he associating with the most extreme anti-India elements on every foreign visit? Is Virod Desh Virod OK in the BJP?”

When asked for comments, Rijiju said, “Everyone knows who are the political leaders of our country who are seen siding with anti-India elements across the world, spewing venom and speaking out against India.”

In a post on X, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey said, “The woman in the red circle is Ilhan Omar, a leader of the US Democratic Party. She has consistently supported the creation of an independent state for Khalistan and Kashmir. Now Rahul Gandhi is garnering support for this policy in the US,” and added.