Rahul in Nepal: It was an ex-envoy's daughter's wedding

The furore over Rahul Gandhi’s private visit to Nepal for a private wedding is yet to die down. The most sought-after question now is: for whose wedding the Congress leader was in the neighbouring country at a time the party is struggling to address many organisational issues?

Rahul’s Nepali friend has been identified as Sumnima Udas, a journalist with CNN who covered India extensively.

Sumnima got married to Nima Martin Sherpa on Tuesday and a reception will be held on May 5 at the Hyatt Regency Hotel in Bauddha.

“We had extended an invitation to Rahul to attend the wedding of my daughter,” said Bhim Udas, Sumnima’s father who also served as Nepal’s Ambassador to Myanmar.

During her time with CNN in Delhi, Sumnima covered politics, economics, social issues, and environment. She also reported on the 2012 Delhi gangrape and the 2014 general elections.

Bhim Udas is a former Nepal ambassador to Myanmar. BJP’s Amit Malviya tweeted, saying “Bhim Udas actively supported Nepal’s claim over regions of India’s Uttarakhand”.

Also read: India among world’s ‘most dangerous nations for media’: Press Freedom Index

Udas has reportedly criticised the controversial Citizens Amendment Act (CAA) and tweeted stories which are not in favour of India.

Shehzad Poonawalla of the BJP accused Rahul Gandhi of “partying with India baitor”. “Rahul and family always put friendship above national interest…” he said on Twitter.

Rahul visit creates a storm on Twitter

On Tuesday (May 3), BJP’s social media in-charge Amit Malviya tweeted a video of Rahul Gandhi apparently at a nightclub in Nepal, inviting a strong response from the Congress which said he was in the friendly country to attend the marriage function of a journalist- friend.

Rahul’s video at a club supposedly with a Chinese diplomat, which was later termed fake, went viral on social media. “Rahul Gandhi was at a nightclub when Mumbai was under seize(sic). He is at a nightclub at a time when his party is exploding. He is consistent. Interestingly, soon after the Congress refused to outsource their presidency, hit jobs have begun on their Prime Ministerial candidate…,” Malviya said in the tweet.

Also read: ‘Colonial mentality’: A misinterpreted notion that stitched together a nation

BJP’s Shehzad Poonawalla tweeted: “Rajasthan burns but RAHUL GANDHI prefers partying over his own party,” referring to the tension in Jodhpur over the weekend.

Surjewala also hit out at the RSS, saying it is not a crime to attend weddings of family and friends as it is part of our culture, unlike the RSS.

“Last when I checked, having a family in this country and having friends, attending marriage and engagement ceremonies is a matter of our culture and civilisation. It has still not become a crime in this country to be married, to be friends with someone or to attend their marriage celebration. Maybe after today, Prime Minister Modi or the BJP may decide that it is illegal to attend a marriage. They may say it is a crime to have friends or participate in family functions,” he said.

“But, do let me know so that we all change our status and habits and civilizational practices of attending marriages of friends, as also family members,” Surjewala also said.

Gandhi arrived in Nepal on Monday (May 1) on a five-day private visit to the country.

(With inputs from Agencies)