‘The country was immersed in the mourning of former PM Manmohan Singh, and…’ Now Sharmistha Mukherjee raised questions on Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Vietnam.

New Delhi: Former President Pranab Mukherjee’s daughter Sharmistha Mukherjee has raised questions on Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Vietnam. This visit took place just a few days after the death of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh. Sharmistha Mukherjee said in an interview to India Today, ‘When the entire country was in mourning, why did Rahul Gandhi go abroad to celebrate the New Year? BJP has also cornered Congress on this issue. Sharmistha also told that no Congress leader was present at the time of immersion of Manmohan Singh’s ashes. She accused the Congress party of not standing with the family of the former Prime Minister. Sharmistha said, ‘Being a common citizen, I want to ask Rahul Gandhi that when the entire country was mourning the former Prime Minister, then why did he/she find a new one? What was the need to go abroad to celebrate the year? Couldn’t you wait a little? The sky would have fallen a little. This statement of Sharmistha has created a stir in the political circles.

BJP also cornered Congress

This comment of Sharmistha Mukherjee comes a week after BJP targeted Congress. BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya had tweeted, ‘When the country is mourning the demise of former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh, Rahul Gandhi has gone to Vietnam to celebrate the New Year.’ he/she further wrote, ‘Gandhi family and Congress hate Sikhs. The desecration of Darbar Sahib by Indira Gandhi should never be forgotten. On this, Congress accused BJP of doing ‘diversion politics’. Congress leader Manickam Tagore said, ‘If Rahul Gandhi travels personally, what is your problem?’

‘While collecting bones, any Congress…’

Sharmistha also said that she came to know through news that no Congress leader was present when Manmohan Singh’s ashes were collected the day after his/her cremation. he/she said, ‘At such a time, the party should have stood with the family of the former Prime Minister. When my father passed away, I received personal condolences from party leaders. It was okay that no one came during the COVID-19 pandemic. But now there is no Covid, no restrictions. Then why was there no Congress leader at the time of immersion of ashes? Why did Rahul Gandhi leave? Why did they have to do this?’

What did Congress say in defence?

Congress leader and former Uttarakhand Chief Minister Harish Rawat defended Rahul Gandhi and said that he/she believed that Rahul Gandhi had gone to Vietnam to study the economy and social system. he/she said, ‘I think Rahul Gandhi had not gone to rest but to study. Vietnam is a model for its economic policies and social system. he/she must have gone to study on these subjects. Rawat also said that there should be no politics when a person takes some time off after a year of hard work. he/she accused BJP of trolling Rahul Gandhi.