Rahul Gandhi Meets Islamist US Lawmaker Ilhan Omar — Five Times She Undermined India's Interests

During his visit to the United States (US), Congress leader Rahul Gandhi met with US lawmakers, including Ilhan Omar, known for her strong anti-India stance.

Omar, notorious for repeatedly undermining India's interests on multiple fronts, has sparked controversy by aligning with anti-India narratives. This meeting has raised eyebrows even among Congress supporters, who argue that Gandhi, as the leader of the opposition in Lok Sabha, should have distanced himself from a US politician who has repeatedly tried to harm India's interests on critical issues like Kashmir.

Here are five instances where Omar has taken a blatantly anti-India stance:

1. POK Visit 

In 2022, Ilhan Omar visited Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK), a territory unlawfully held by Pakistan. The trip, organised and funded by Islamabad, saw the Congresswoman echo Pakistani military propaganda, attempting to internationalise a bilateral issue.

India was swift to condemn the visit, stating, "If such a politician wishes to practice narrow-minded politics at home, that's her business, but violating our territorial integrity and sovereignty in its pursuit makes this ours, and we think the visit is condemnable."

2. Hinduphobic Resolution 

In the same year, Omar and her colleague Rashida Tlaib spearheaded a House resolution (H.Res. 1196) accusing India of violating religious freedoms and urging the US to classify India as a “Country of Particular Concern.” This inflammatory resolution, based on distorted narratives, directly fuelled rising Hinduphobia, adversely impacting Hindu Americans.

During the protests against India’s farm laws — widely seen as hijacked by vested interests — Omar lent her voice to a movement that quickly turned violent. She continued her support when the protests were linked to the Khalistan network.

In 2023, after law enforcement had to shut down the internet to curb the Khalistani unrest in Punjab, Omar fanned the flames, saying she was "profoundly concerned about the human rights situation in Punjab," pushing the separatist agenda.

4. Defending Article 370

Despite diplomatic warnings, Omar met with Sultan Mahmood Chaudhary, the so-called president of Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, and criticised India’s 2019 abrogation of Article 370, calling it a "deep concern." Her statements were in direct alignment with Pakistan’s anti-India rhetoric.

5. Peddling Unverified Allegations Against India 

In 2024, Omar amplified Canadian accusations linking India to the killing of Khalistani terrorist Hardeep Singh Nijjar in a gang conflict. “The allegations that Canadian citizen Hardeep Singh Nijjar was assassinated by the Indian government are deeply concerning,” she stated, demanding a US investigation.

Canada has yet to provide evidence supporting its claims, but Omar’s rhetoric stirred the pot, fuelling further tensions.