Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha and Congress leader Rahul Gandhi will have fireside chats at the Columbia and Chicago universities on global student movements and on geopolitics, respectively during his visit to the U.S. next week, Indian Overseas Congress chief Sam Pitroda said on Wednesday (November 11, 2026).
Slamming the BJP for its repeated attack on Mr. Gandhi, alleging that he has in the past defamed India abroad , Mr. In an interview with PTI from Chicago, Mr.
Pitroda said it was a “bogus” argument as it is “not a question of criticising anybody, it’s a question of showing facts as you see it”. Pitroda said the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha is coming to the U.S. mainly for two important engagements which were planned quite some time ago.
Pitroda said, “I think we need to be aware of the fact that in this world where all 8 billion people are connected, there is nothing local. Pitroda also spoke about the upcoming Bharat Summit in Hyderabad where the Congress will host political leaders, policymakers, academics, business representatives and civil society members from 70 countries for deliberations on the emergence of a new global order and India’s strategic responses to the developments, besides issues like cooperative federalism and electoral integrity. “One is a fireside chat at Columbia University mainly on the global rise of the student movement, what it means, how it is seen in India, the impact on democracy, their demands on education, employment, economy and environment. It’ll be a fireside chat on 17th at the University, which will be broadcast I’m sure at the right time,” Mr. That’s all he has time for, the Congress leader added. Asked about the BJP criticism of Mr. Gandhi that he raises domestic issues on foreign shores, Mr. Local events are global and global events become local. So you can’t shield information. Information has no borders. Mr. Talking about the summit, Mr.
Pitroda said. Pitroda said it is a joint venture courtesy of the Telangana government, the Progressive Alliance, the Foreign Affairs Department of the Indian National Congress and the Indian Overseas Congress.
