BJP fires shots at Rahul Gandhi over viral video, Congress replies

BJP social media head posted a video on Twitter saying, 'Rahul Gandhi was at a nightclub when Mumbai was under siege'

The BJP on Tuesday circulated a video of Rahul Gandhi claiming to be in a nightclub in Nepal, an action that invited a strong reaction from the Congress which said he was attending a marriage function of a journalist-friend and it was not a crime.

BJP social media head Amit Malviya posted a 12-second video on Twitter saying, "Rahul Gandhi was at a nightclub when Mumbai was under siege. 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..." The tweet went viral on social media.

Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala hit back at Malviya saying Rahul was in Nepal for a wedding and that he has not gone there uninvited like Prime Minister Narendra Modi who had gone to Islamabad to celebrate the birthday of the then Pakistan Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif without an invite. Rahul reached Nepal on Monday for a five-day private visit.

"Rahul Gandhi has not gone as an uninvited guest like Prime Minister Narendra Modi had gone to Pakistan to celebrate the birthday and cut cakes for Nawaz Sharif. Rahul Gandhi has gone to a friendly country Nepal to participate in a private marriage function of a friend. By chance, the friend also happens to be a journalist," he said.

Congress Lok Sabha Whip Manickam Tagore tweeted, "what is wrong in it when he attends a marriage reception? Why are Sanghis afraid of him? Why are Sanghis spreading lies? Every one of us attends private functions."

Targeting the RSS, Surjewala said it was not a crime to attend weddings of family and friends.

"Last when I checked, having a family in this country and having friends, 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 friends with someone or to attend their marriage celebration. Maybe after today, Prime Minister Modi or the BJP may decide that it is illegal to attend a marriage. They may say it is a crime to have friends or participate in family functions," he said.

The Kathmandu Post reported that Rahul was in Kathmandu to attend the wedding of his Nepali friend Sumnima Udas, who is a former CNN correspondent. She is the daughter of Bhim Udas, who has earlier served as Nepal’s Ambassador to Myanmar.

Bhim Udas was quoted by The Kathmandu Post as saying, "we had extended an invitation to Gandhi to attend the wedding of my daughter." The newspaper also reported that "some other Indian VVIPs" have also arrived in Kathmandu to attend the wedding of Sumnima with Nima Martin Sherpa.

The marriage function is planned for Tuesday and a reception will be held on May 5 at Hyatt Regency Hotel in Bauddha, the report said.

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