NEW DELHI, Nov 11: Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will visit the United States next week to take part in discussions at two universities, Indian Overseas Congress chairman Sam Pitroda said on Wednesday.
Gandhi will speak at Columbia University in New York on November 17 on the rise of student movements worldwide and their impact. He will take part in a discussion on geopolitics and international affairs at the University of Chicago on November 18.
The discussion at Columbia University will cover the impact of student movements on democracy and demands raised by students on education, employment, the economy and the environment. Pitroda said the university would broadcast the programme.
At the University of Chicago, Gandhi will hold a discussion with political science professor Robert Pape. International developments, geopolitics, the situation in West Asia and the Iran war are likely to be discussed.
Pitroda said both programmes had been planned earlier. He rejected BJP criticism of Gandhi for raising India’s internal issues during foreign visits, saying local and global developments affected each other and that discussing an issue abroad did not insult the country.
He also said the Bharat Summit, scheduled to be held in Hyderabad on November 13 and 14, would bring together political leaders, policymakers, academics, business representatives and civil society members from around 70 countries. The summit will discuss the new world order, democracy, electoral integrity, cooperative federalism and the impact of artificial intelligence.
