Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi will be taking a break from politics to visit his 93-year-old grandmother in Italy, he said on Twitter. He will most likely spend his 47th birthday on 19 June with them.
His latest foreign visit comes in the midst of hectic politics over the coming Presidential elections and other developments, including the farm crisis.
He did not mention how many days he will be abroad.
Rahul's grandmother Paola Maino lives in Italy.
Defending Gandhi, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala, said:
Rahul Gandhi is travelling abroad to meet his 93-year-old grandmother and family. To take care of the well-being of elders is part of our culture... He will continue to lead and guide the ongoing farmers’ agitation and every Congressman is committed to fighting for the farmers’ rights,
Rahul Gandhi had in March visited the US, where his mother and party chief Sonia Gandhi had gone for a health check-up.
Earlier, during the New Year Celebrations, Gandhi had gone to London for a short break.
Rahul Gandhi Mocked by BJP
Meanwhile, Gandhi was mocked by the BJP, which said the Congress leader “treats politics like a picnic”.
BJP general secretary Kailash Vijayvargiya mocked the Congress vice president saying he was leaving in the midst of the farmers' protest and other political developments.
We too used to visit our grandmother’s house during the summer holidays when we were kids. Do not expect Rahulji to be concerned about the condition of the country or the farmers. He treats politics like a picnic,Kailash Vijayvargiya, BJP general secretary
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