The BJP alleges Rahul Gandhi’s foreign travel expenditure was significantly higher than his declared income over multiple years
Bharatiya Janata Party leader and national spokesperson Sambit Patra on Wednesday launched a sharp attack on Congress MP and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, questioning the massive expenditure on his foreign trips over the last two decades and demanding full transparency on the source of funding.
Addressing a press conference in Delhi, Patra alleged that Rahul Gandhi undertook 54 foreign trips in the past 22 years and spent nearly Rs 60 crore on overseas travel despite earning only a fraction of that amount during the same period.
Patra claimed the Congress leader’s foreign travel expenses were nearly five times higher than his declared income and asked who financed the lavish trips. He also questioned whether all financial and legal procedures were followed if any foreign entities were involved in funding the visits.
“How did Rahul Gandhi spend five times his income? Who is funding him? If any foreign company has financed these trips, did he follow the required regulations?” Patra asked.
The BJP leader said Rahul Gandhi has been holding elected office for over two decades and yet the public has never received a proper explanation regarding the scale of his foreign travel spending. He further claimed Gandhi was usually accompanied by three to four individuals on most of these trips, further increasing the expenditure.
Patra presented what he described as year-wise figures to highlight the alleged mismatch between Rahul Gandhi’s declared earnings and travel expenditure.
According to the BJP:
- In 2014-15, Rahul Gandhi allegedly spent Rs 4.5 crore on foreign travel.
- In 2017-18, he earned Rs 1.20 crore but reportedly spent Rs 6 crore on overseas visits.
- In 2018-19, his declared income stood at Rs 1.22 crore while foreign travel expenditure was allegedly Rs 3.9 crore.
- In 2019-20, Gandhi reportedly earned Rs 1.39 crore and spent Rs 4.6 crore on foreign trips.
- In 2021-22, his income was Rs 1.03 crore while alleged travel spending stood at Rs 2.6 crore.
Patra said the figures raise “serious questions” about financial propriety, accountability and transparency from a leader occupying a constitutional position.
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— Sambit Patra (@sambitswaraj) May 14, 2026
The BJP spokesperson also referred to Rahul Gandhi’s election affidavits and pointed to the sharp rise in his declared assets over the years. According to Patra, Gandhi declared assets worth Rs 55.58 lakh when he contested his first Lok Sabha election in 2004, while his assets in the 2024 election affidavit stood at nearly Rs 21 crore.
Patra said the Congress leader owed the country a clear explanation regarding both the funding of his frequent foreign travel and the growth in his wealth.
