‘I’m not a travel agent’: Tharoor declines to comment on Rahul Gandhi’s foreign trip

Thiruvananthapuram: Congress MP Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday gave a sharp response when asked about Rahul Gandhi’s latest foreign visit, saying he was not in a position to explain the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition’s travel plans.

“I am not a travel agent,” Tharoor told reporters in Thiruvananthapuram, the constituency he represents in the Lok Sabha. He added, “I am here now and mind you, everyone has their own reasons.”

The brief remark came amid growing political interest in Rahul Gandhi’s overseas trip and the reluctance of several Congress leaders to comment on it. Tharoor did not offer any explanation for the visit, making it clear that he would not speak on behalf of the Congress leader.

His comment that “everyone has their own reasons” further underlined that political leaders make their own choices, while leaving questions over Gandhi’s travel plans unanswered.

Tharoor’s response has drawn attention as his public statements are often read for indications of his equation with the Congress leadership. However, he offered no further clarification and let his two-line reply speak for itself.

Rahul Gandhi’s domestic and foreign visits have frequently attracted political attention, particularly when they coincide with major developments or invite questions about the party leadership’s priorities.

For the Congress, questions over the movements of its senior leaders often become a political talking point, with every response closely examined for its implications. Tharoor’s message, in effect, was simple: Rahul Gandhi has his reasons, and so does he.

(Inputs from IANS)