Rahul Gandhi
NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday held a nearly two-hour closed-door meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi and home minister Amit Shah to finalise key appointments to the Central Information Commission (CIC). The discussions revolved around the selection of the Chief Information Commissioner, eight Information Commissioners, and the Vigilance Commissioner in the Central Vigilance Commission (CVC). Sources told news agency ANI that Gandhi also submitted a dissent note regarding the selection of the officials.
The meeting came on a day when Gandhi’s upcoming visit to Berlin triggered fresh political sparring. The BJP criticised him for planning a foreign tour while the Parliament’s winter session is still underway.BJP leader Shehzad Poonawalla targeted the Congress MP, calling him “Videsh Nayak” and accusing him of prioritising international trips over parliamentary responsibilities. In a post shared on X, Poonawalla said, “Once again Videsh Nayak is doing what he does best ! Going for a foreign tour ! Parliament is on till 19th Dec, but Reports suggest Rahul Gandhi to visit Germany from Dec 15-20! Rahul is LoP – leader of paryatan During Bihar elections, too, he was abroad & then in a Jungle Safari,” adding that Gandhi was similarly away during the Bihar polls. “During the Bihar elections too, he was abroad & then in Jungle Safari,” Poonawalla’s post further read.Rahul Gandhi is scheduled to attend a major Indian Overseas Congress (IOC) event in Berlin on December 17, where leaders from IOC chapters across Europe will gather. The IOC has described the tour as an outreach initiative aimed at strengthening the party’s global engagement and connecting with the diaspora.Announcing the event, IOC Austria president Ausaf Khan said, “We are honored to welcome Shri Rahul Gandhi Ji, Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Member of Parliament, who will be engaging with the Indian diaspora in Berlin on December 17, 2025. The event will bring together all Presidents of the Indian Overseas Congress from across Europe, providing a unique platform to discuss key issues with Shri Rahul Gandhi, particularly on strengthening the Congress Party ,NRI issues and further exploring how the IOC can play a pivotal role in connecting more people to the party and spreading its ideology. We look forward to receiving invaluable guidance from our senior leadership, including Shri Rahul Gandhi, Shri Sam Pitroda, Dr. Arathi Krishna, and other esteemed leaders. Ausaf Khan President IOC, Austria,” the IOC posted on X.Vikram Duhan, General Secretary of IOC UK, highlighted the broader strategic angle of the trip. “The Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi Ji’s visit to Germany will offer a valuable platform to engage in dialogue on India’s global role, while fostering the exchange of ideas and opportunities with German legislators and members of the Indian diaspora. – Vikram Duhan General Secretary Indian Overseas Congress UK,” the IOC post read.
