The BJP attacks Rahul Gandhi for meeting with "anti-India voice" Ilhan Omar in the US, saying "Even Pakistani leaders would."

 BJP leaders have strongly criticized Congress leader Rahul Gandhi after his recent meeting with US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar during his visit to the United States. Omar, a Democrat from Minnesota, has often been a polarizing figure, especially in India, due to her controversial views on Indian issues.

The BJP attacks Rahul Gandhi for meeting with "anti-India voice" Ilhan Omar in the US, saying "Even Pakistani leaders would."

Amit Malviya, head of the BJP’s IT cell, took to X (formerly Twitter) to voice his concerns, accusing Gandhi of working against India’s interests by meeting with Omar. Malviya called her a “Pakistan-sponsored anti-India voice” and a supporter of radical Islam and Kashmir’s independence. He further remarked that even Pakistani leaders would think twice before associating with someone like Omar, accusing Congress of openly siding against India.

Omar has a history of stirring debates in India. Recently, she waded into the India-Canada row, urging the US to back Canada's investigation into India's alleged involvement in the killing of Sikh separatist leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar.

During his three-day visit to the US, Gandhi met with the Indian diaspora, students, and several US lawmakers. His meetings, held at the Rayburn House Office Building, included notable Congress members like Ro Khanna, Raja Krishnamoorthi, and Ilhan Omar. Omar’s presence sparked outrage from BJP leaders. Shehzad Poonawalla, another BJP spokesperson, slammed Gandhi for engaging with her, pointing out her vocal opposition to India’s policies, including the abrogation of Article 370, and her controversial visit to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) on a Pakistan-sponsored trip. Poonawalla questioned why Gandhi frequently connects with what he called “anti-India elements” during his foreign trips, asking, "In opposing the BJP, is opposing India okay?"

Omar’s 2022 trip to Pakistan, where she met leaders like Shehbaz Sharif and Imran Khan and visited PoK, added to her controversial image. She also boycotted Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s speech during his address to the US Congress.

This US visit marks Gandhi’s first since becoming the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, coming just before the US Presidential Elections. Upon his arrival, he expressed his eagerness to strengthen India-US relations, sharing his excitement after a successful event with the Indian community in Dallas.

Ilhan Omar, a Somali refugee and one of the first Muslim women elected to the US Congress, has also faced backlash for past comments, some of which were condemned as antisemitic. BJP spokesperson Pradeep Bhandari added to the criticism, claiming that Gandhi’s meeting with Omar shows his support for “Pakistan apologists” and accused Congress of compromising India’s national security.

Gandhi’s meetings and interactions in the US have ignited a firestorm back home, with BJP leaders questioning his motives and criticizing the company he keeps abroad.