Rahul Gandhi’s UK Visit Clouded as Parliament Event Changes Hosts

Congress president Rahul Gandhi is due to make a two-day visit to the UK next week, but the trip has been overshadowed by a change of hosts for one of his planned speaking events in the Houses of Parliament complex in London.

The Parliament event

Gandhi is to arrive in London from Germany on August 24. He was originally to speak at an event organised by CF India (Conservative Friends of India), a membership body promoting ties between India and the UK’s ruling Conservative Party. The event will now be held in another room within the Commons complex, because CF India said it was unable to confirm its booking.

Reports said the event had lost its parliamentary backing, and the Indian Overseas Congress (IOC) took over the August 24 meeting, assisted by Labour MP Keith Vaz, who is of Indian origin. It is now billed as a cross-party gathering, to keep it away from the influence of local BJP supporters who were said to be unhappy with CF India’s involvement. IOC spokesperson Gurminder Randhawa said the change allowed the IOC to manage attendance.

Other engagements

The IOC is also holding a diaspora event for the Congress president on August 25, billed as the Indian Overseas Congress UK Mega Conference 2018, which Randhawa said would bring together NRIs living in the UK.

Gandhi is also scheduled to speak on India’s economic growth and foreign policy, and to address students and academics at the London School of Economics at the launch of the Perspective India Townhall run by NISAU UK, a students and alumni body. NISAU UK chair Sanam Arora said the aim was open and unbiased discussion on the challenges and opportunities facing India. The Indian Journalists’ Association in the UK is to host a working lunch with him.

Sam Pitroda, who is accompanying Gandhi and is guest of honour at the IOC events, linked the trip to global attention on events in Turkey and the fall of the lira, saying they raised questions about styles of leadership.

See also: Indian National Congress

Originally published on 18 August 2018. Rewritten on 9 October 2026.

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