Rahul Gandhi’s Meeting with Ilhan Omar Sparks BJP Criticism
Leader of Opposition and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, currently on a tour of the United States, met Congresswoman Ilhan Omar on September 11. This meeting has drawn sharp criticism from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), which has condemned Omar as a “Pakistan-sponsored anti-India voice.”
Amit Malviya, BJP’s national information and technology chief, criticized the Congress leader on X, alleging that even Pakistani leaders would be cautious about aligning with figures like Omar, whom he described as a “radical Islamist” and an advocate for independent Kashmir. Malviya accused the Congress of undermining India’s interests by engaging with such “radical elements.”
BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari echoed these sentiments, claiming that Gandhi’s meeting with Omar signifies an endorsement of “pro-Pakistan” and “anti-India” elements, accusing the Congress Party of compromising India’s national security.
During his three-day visit to the US, Rahul Gandhi met with various Indian community members, students, and US lawmakers. His visit included meetings at the Rayburn House Office Building, hosted by Congressman Bradley James Sherman, with attendees including US Congress members Jonathan Jackson, Ro Khanna, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Barbara Lee, Shri Thanedar, Jesus G “Chuy” Garcia, Ilhan Omar, Hank Johnson, and Jan Schakowsky.
Ilhan Omar, a Democratic Congresswoman from Minnesota and the first Somali-American elected to Congress, is known for her critical stance on India. Her visit to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir in 2022 and her introduction of a resolution condemning India’s alleged human rights violations have been controversial.
