What will Rahul Gandhi do in America for 3 days, why is this trip special
September 9,2024
This will be Gandhi’s first visit to the US after the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, in which the Indian National Congress won 99 seats. According to Indian Overseas Congress chief Sam Pitroda, Rahul Gandhi will visit Dallas and Washington DC in the US. He will address the Indian diaspora as well as business and academic leaders there.
Rahul Gandhi’s US visit comes just ahead of PM Modi’s visit. Modi is scheduled to visit New York this month for the United Nations General Assembly event. Modi will also meet the NRIs there. Rahul Gandhi had earlier visited the US in May 2023 – when he attracted attention with his comments attacking the Modi government.
Rahul Gandhi’s US visit comes just ahead of PM Modi’s visit. Modi is scheduled to visit New York this month for the United Nations General Assembly event. Modi will also meet the NRIs there. Rahul Gandhi had earlier visited the US in May 2023 – when he attracted attention with his remarks attacking the Modi government.
The Congress leader’s visit to the US holds considerable significance for several reasons. Interest and engagement with the Congress have surged globally following the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. In recent months, Malaysia’s Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and Bhutan’s Prime Minister Lotay Tshering have both met with Rahul Gandhi during their visits to India. India’s diplomatic partners have shown increased interest in engaging with the Congress after the party’s strong performance in the elections. Gandhi’s US visit is expected to include meetings with key American leaders, as Washington is keen to ensure that the opposition continues to support India-US relations. Recently, the US Ambassador to India also met with Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge.
The Indian diaspora is a powerful lobby in the US, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP have made significant inroads with this community over the past few decades. Indian-Americans have been a major source of political funding for Modi, who has strategically engaged with them as part of his diplomatic efforts in the US. His 2014 event at Madison Square Garden and the 2019 Howdy Modi rally drew thousands of Indian-Americans, boosting his star power and political image back home. Rahul Gandhi’s visit is seen as an effort to build similar influence domestically and challenge Modi’s stronghold on the support of the Indian diaspora.
Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to meet with the Indian diaspora in Texas on September 8 and in Washington, DC on September 9. The Indian Overseas Congress has invited people to register for the events via X. According to the organization’s website, the Texas meeting will take place at the Toyota Music Factory in Dallas, while the Washington, DC event is set for Monday from 5-8 pm at the Hilton Washington Dulles near Dulles Airport.
Congress national media panelist Surendra Rajput mentioned that the purpose of Gandhi’s visit includes discussing his vision of the “India of his dreams.” In a post on X, Gandhi highlighted the growing importance of the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) post after the general elections, stating that the world is eager to hear his views on democracy, the Constitution, and India’s future. He also emphasized that Gandhi will discuss the role the Congress party is playing in shaping the country’s future.
