Rahul Gandhi in US: Rahul Gandhi's ongoing US visit has been full of controversies. While the BJP has raised eyebrows over his alleged "pro-china" comments, BSP's Mayawati has questioned his seriousness over increasing the reservation cap for 'marginalised communities'. Now, his photo with an American lawmaker, Ilhan Omar, has sparked a fresh row. Reason? Ilhan Omar is known well for her 'anti-India' stance.
Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi, along with Congress leader Sam Pitroda, met Ilhan Omar and Ro Khanna among others, during his visit to the US. Photos of Rahul Gandhi with the Democrat MPs were shared by BJP leaders pointing out that this meeting was against India's interests. The meeting was hosted by Democratic Party MP Bradley James Sherman
How BJP Reacted To Rahul Gandhi Meeting Ilhan Omar
BJP national spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla alleged that Rahul Gandhi first spoke against India and then met "anti-India" Ilhan Omar. "After spewing venom against Sikhs & running down India on foreign soil now Rahul Gandhi meets & engages with anti India Ilhan Omar - 1) Ilhan had introduced anti India resolutions in US Congress 2) She has been against abrogation of Art 370 3) She violated India’s sovereignty & visited PoK on a trip sponsored by Pakistan 4) She met Imran Khan & other such elements to discuss “Islamophobia” in India 5) She has been instrumental in peddling hatred against Hindus," he posted on X
"Why did Rahul Gandhi have to meet her? Why is he engaging with the most radical anti-India elements on every foreign trip? In BJP virodh - desh virodh is ok (in opposition to BJP, is opposition to the nation ok)," Shehzad Poonawalla asked.
Who Is Ilhan Omar?
Ilhan Omar (41) is a Democratic Party MP, who was born in Somalia and entered America as a refugee. She was elected to the US House of Representatives in 2019. She was the only Muslim Congresswoman back then. She is the first Somali-American to be elected to the US Congress. She is now seeking a fourth term in the US Congress.
Ilhan Omar raised eyebrows when she visited Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir and met Shehbaz Sharif and former PM Imran Khan. After the visit, she told mediapersons: "I don’t believe that [Kashmir] is being talked about to the extent it needs to in Congress but also with the [US] administration." She also alleged human rights violations in Kashmir.
India responded by calling her out for employing "narrow-minded politics" and asserted that Kashmir was very much part of India. I
In 2023, she introduced a resolution to "condemn" alleged human rights violations and violations of international religious freedom in India. Ilhan Omar also called on the US government in 2022 to review its security alliance in the Indo-Pacific region.
In 2019, she opposed a Bill that would have brought down the waiting period for Indians seeking Green Cards or permanent residency in the US.