Tharoor made the remarks while interacting with reporters in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, on Wednesday. Asked why Gandhi had travelled abroad during the protests, the Congress MP declined to comment on his colleague’s itinerary.

Tharoor’s “Travel Agent” Remark

Responding to reporters, Tharoor said, “I am not a travel agent. There is no point in asking me that question.”

He added that every individual had responsibilities and referred to his own travel from Delhi to Kerala to explain why he could not comment on another leader’s movements.

“Why did I leave Delhi and come here now? Every person has certain responsibilities. So, I cannot comment on that,” he said.

Tharoor’s response came as Gandhi’s reported overseas visit became a subject of political debate, with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) questioning his absence from the national capital.

BJP Targets Rahul Gandhi Over Vietnam Visit

The BJP criticised Gandhi over reports that he had travelled to Vietnam for a four-day break. The criticism came after the Congress leader participated in opposition demonstrations against Gyanesh Kumar and the SIR exercise.

The BJP shared a video on social media purportedly showing Gandhi aboard a flight, using it to question his decision to travel abroad while the opposition campaign was underway.

BJP leaders accused Gandhi of taking a break after participating in the protests and challenged the Congress to explain the purpose of his foreign visits.

The allegations added to the political confrontation between the BJP and the Congress over the electoral roll revision exercise and the opposition’s demand for the Election Commission chief’s resignation.

Congress Defends Gandhi’s Right to Travel

Congress leaders pushed back against the BJP’s criticism, arguing that Gandhi’s travel plans should not become a political controversy.

Congress general secretary K. C. Venugopal questioned the criticism, saying Gandhi was away for only a few days. He also indicated that the opposition would continue its campaign against the Election Commission, with further protests planned.

Former Congress MP Sandeep Dikshit also defended Gandhi’s right to travel, pointing to his reported interactions with students, academics and intellectuals during overseas visits.

The Congress has maintained that Gandhi’s absence for a short period does not diminish the party’s campaign against the SIR process.

SIR Dispute Continues

The controversy surrounding Gandhi’s reported Vietnam trip comes amid continuing opposition criticism of the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls.

Opposition parties have raised concerns about the exercise and demanded accountability from Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar. The BJP, meanwhile, has questioned the opposition’s allegations and used Gandhi’s reported absence to criticise the Congress leadership.

Tharoor’s response avoided commenting directly on the purpose of Gandhi’s trip, leaving the political debate to continue between the two parties.

While the BJP has questioned the timing of the reported visit, Congress leaders have argued that the focus should remain on the electoral roll revision dispute rather than Gandhi’s personal travel plans.