Rahul Gandhi Leaves for Vietnam Amid Congress Protests Over SIR

October 19, 2026

New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has left for Vietnam amid his party’s protests over the Special Intensive Revision (SIR) of electoral rolls. Sources said he departed from Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport for Hanoi at around 1:35 pm on Sunday.

It is not yet clear whether Gandhi is visiting Vietnam for personal reasons or to attend an event. The Congress has not issued an official statement about his trip.

Gandhi’s foreign visits have often drawn criticism from the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). The party has accused him of damaging India’s image through his remarks about Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government during overseas visits.

Gandhi had also visited Vietnam in January this year. At the time, BJP leaders questioned who had invited him to foreign events and criticised his comments made abroad.

Rahul Gandhi Steps Up Attack Over SIR

Gandhi’s latest visit comes as the Congress continues its campaign against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar over the ongoing revision of electoral rolls.

The Congress leader has accused Kumar of working with the BJP in what the party describes as ‘vote chori’. Gandhi has alleged that the Chief Election Commissioner is acting on the instructions of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Union Home Minister Amit Shah. He has also demanded Kumar’s resignation.

Last week, Gandhi filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking a halt to the SIR exercise and calling for the Chief Election Commissioner to step down.

Congress Leader Targets Modi, Shah and CEC

On Sunday, Gandhi repeated his allegations while addressing a rally in Margao in south Goa.

“There is no confusion anymore,” he said, accusing Gyanesh Kumar of implementing what he called vote theft. He alleged that Amit Shah was overseeing the process while Prime Minister Modi was planning it.

Gandhi also warned that the three leaders would be held accountable for their actions. These remarks came amid the Congress’s continuing opposition to the electoral roll revision.

The BJP has previously criticised Gandhi’s overseas visits and his statements about the government. The Congress has yet to clarify the purpose of his current trip to Vietnam.