Rahul Gandhi’s video of being spotted in a nightclub in Nepal with a young woman, was blown out of proportion by the BJP and social media. Some TV channels even said that the woman may be a Chinese diplomat. The gossip was reduced to nothing after the Congress said that Rahul was in Nepal to attend the wedding of his journalist friend, Sumnima Udas.
Here’s what we know about Sumnima Udas:
As the BJP stoked controversy by sharing a video of Rahul Gandhi partying at a nightclub in Kathmandu, the Congress defended its top leader and asked “What is wrong with it?”
Sumnima Udas is CNN International’s Delhi-based correspondent. She covers key political, economic, social, environmental and general interest stories in India.
Asked about the viral video during a Press conference, Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala clarified that Rahul Gandhi was attending a friend’s wedding in Kathmandu. He also sharply advised the BJP to focus on issues of import instead of going after the Congress leader for no reason.
Surjewala said, “It is not wrong to have friends and attend marriage ceremonies. Rahul Gandhi went to a friendly country Nepal to participate in a private marriage function of a friend who alshappens to be a journalist. So, they are also abusing your fraternity. “
One of the most visible leaders of the Congress, Surjewala said, “ Last when I checked, having family, friends and attending marriage and engagement ceremonies is a matter of our culture and civilisation. It has still not become a crime in this country to be married, to be a friend of someone or to attend their marriage celebration. May be after today, Prime Minister Modi may decide, BJP may decide that it is illegal to attend a marriage and a crime to have friends. But do let me know so that we can change our status and civilisational practices of attending marriages of friends as also family members,” he said.
“Rahul Gandhi is in Kathmandu to attend the wedding of his friend. He is on a personal visit there. Why are they [BJP] not answering the questions related to power crisis and inflation. They have all the time in the world for Rahul Gandhi,” Surjewala said.
Surjewala further said, “Rahul Gandhi has not gone as an uninvited guest like PM Modi went to Pakistan. Rahul Gandhi went to a friendly country, Nepal, to participate in private marriage function of a friend.”
Manickam Tagore, Congress MP from Virudhunagar (Tamil Nadu), accused the saffron party of spreading lies and asked what was wrong with the Gandhi scion attending a private marriage reception, like a regular person.
“What is wrong in it when he attends a marriage reception? Why Sanghis are afraid about him? Why Sanghis are spreading lies? Every one of us attend private functions.(sic)” the middle-aged member of Parliament tweeted.
Manickam Tagore did not stop at this. He shared pictures of senior BJP leader and former Union minister Prakash Javadekar popping off bottles of champagne at an event.
It was BJP IT cell in-charge Amit Malviya who tweeted Rahul’s video today and remarked, “Rahul Gandhi was at a nightclub when Mumbai was under seize. He is at a nightclub at a time when his party is exploding. He is consistent. Interestingly, soon after the Congress refused to outsource their presidency, hit jobs have begun on their Prime Ministerial candidate (sic).”
The undated video shared by the BJP shows Rahul Gandhi accompanied by a friend in a dimly lit nightclub with loud music in the background.
Wading into the controversy, Trinamool Congress MP Mahua Moitra censured “BJP trolls” for their double standards and said what the Gandhi scion does in his personal life is nobody’s business.
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