BJP Slams Congress As Rahul Gandhi, DK Shivakumar Ring In New Year Abroad While Nation Mourns Manmohan Singh

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Amid reports of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi travelling to Vietnam to ring in the new year, Karnataka’s deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar travelled to Turkey during the same time

Shivakumar’s Turkey trip comes under the scanner along with Rahul Gandhi’s Vietnam travel. File pic/PTI

The Karnataka BJP has found fresh ammunition against the Congress. It has pointed to the “insensitivity” of Congress leaders while the nation was mourning the loss of former Prime Minister and Congress veteran Dr Manmohan Singh.

Amid reports of Congress MP Rahul Gandhi travelling to Vietnam to ring in the new year, Karnataka’s deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar travelled to Turkey during the same time.

Senior Bharatiya Janata Party leader and former Karnataka deputy chief minister CN Ashwath Narayan criticised such acts by people in positions of power as displaying their “irresponsible behaviour and insensitivity”.

“When they are not in positions of power, they can take such liberties. But being in a position as the deputy CM of a state, at a time when the nation is mourning the loss of a former PM and good leader like Manmohan Singh, it only shows their irresponsible behaviour and insensitivity. Being part of a government, they cannot afford to have such luxuries and good times. The positions they hold do not permit them to have a jolly time like this; they are constrained by their roles and have to perform,” said Narayan to News18.

Congress leaders defended the travel, saying it was a planned trip that was scheduled six months ago, and since it was already slotted, Shivakumar went.

“The government is observing the mourning, and we have cancelled all celebrations or other public functions. This trip by the deputy CM was a scheduled trip, and that is how he travelled. Government and party functions have been cancelled for the seven-day mourning. This trip to Turkey was fixed six months ago,” said Congress spokesperson AN Natraj Gowda.

Shivakumar’s Turkey trip comes under the scanner along with Rahul Gandhi’s Vietnam travel. The BJP targeted the Lok Sabha leader of opposition, saying he had gone abroad to party on New Year’s Eve while the nation was mourning the loss of Dr Singh.

Shivakumar skipped the first state cabinet meeting of 2025, which was scheduled for January 2.

Leader of the opposition in the state legislative council Chaluvadi Narayanaswamy criticised Shivakumar’s trip.

In a post on social media site X, DK Shivakumar has written: “In light of New Year celebrations, I have personally asked BBMP, BESCOM, BWSSB authorities and staff to not take any holiday and proactively continue their service to the people of Bengaluru. All zonal officers of Bengaluru will be performing their duties as required. Ensuring the fulfilment of public needs and maintaining peace and harmony is of utmost importance to us, and we shall continue to work together in the same direction as always.”

Another BJP leader also raised the issue of how Shivakumar had asked people to observe mourning and instructed government officials to work through December 31 and January 1, but he himself was “selfish” enough to take a holiday.

“He cannot follow his own instructions. If the government is working, he who represents the government should also do so. He should be an example, not have different standards,” said the leader, who did not want to be named.

The BJP and Congress have been trading barbs over Dr Manmohan Singh’s last rites and plans for his memorial. The Congress has alleged that the ruling BJP at the Centre had humiliated Dr Singh by organising the cremation at Nigambodh Ghat and not respecting his legacy.

The BJP countered, saying that the allegations were baseless; rather, the Narendra Modi government had provided a state funeral to the former Prime Minister and done everything required to honour him as the PM of the country.

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla in a statement had said, “The country is in mourning. The government has announced seven days of national mourning. As expected from Rahul Gandhi, we have received information that he has left for tourism and to party. You will remember that after the 26/11 attacks on Mumbai, newspapers had reported how Rahul Gandhi partied all night. And today, he does not care about honouring Dr Manmohan Singh. He just wants to play politics on it.”

News politics BJP Slams Congress As Rahul Gandhi, DK Shivakumar Ring In New Year Abroad While Nation Mourns Manmohan Singh

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