Rahul Gandhi to visit US in September
What's the story
Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, will embark on his first overseas trip since assuming his new role next month. Chairman of the Indian Overseas Congress, Sam Pitroda, announced that he will be visiting the United States from September 8 to 10. During his US visit, Gandhi will be in Dallas, Texas on September 8 and Washington DC on September 9 and 10.
Visit details
Gandhi's US visit itinerary and engagements revealed
His schedule includes meetings with academics, journalists, think tank representatives, technocrats, businessmen, and members of the Indian diaspora. "Since Rahul Gandhi has become the leader of Opposition,..I have been bombarded with requests from the Indian diaspora, diplomats, academicians, businesspersons, leaders, international media and many others, for interactions with him," Pitroda said. "There are a lot of events planned...because we find that people also have a lot of interest in the states we run with a Congress government," he said.
Scheduled meetings
Gandhi's engagements in Dallas and Washington
In Dallas, Gandhi will address a gathering at the University of Texas, comprising students, academicians, and community members. He is also scheduled to meet with technocrats and dine with local leaders. In Washington DC, his itinerary includes interactions with think tanks and the National Press Club. Pitroda highlighted that "there are a lot of events planned with a variety of people because people also have interest in the states we (Congress) run."
Political context
Gandhi's second trip to the US within 2 years
This will be Gandhi's second trip to the US within two years. His previous visit in May 2023 included engagements in San Francisco, Washington DC, and New York where he interacted with the NRI community, business leaders, and media persons. He also spoke with entrepreneurs and domain specialists on Artificial intelligence (AI).