Gandhi took a cab from airport to his hotel.
By Sujeet Rajan
NEW YORK: The Vice President of the Indian National Congress party, Rahul Gandhi, arrived in New York City today from Aspen, Colorado, where he did, indeed, attend a private conference on technology and media, hosted by popular host Charlie Rose, putting to rest several incorrect stories that queried his whereabouts, including one done by this reporter.
A source, speaking to The American Bazaar, on the condition of anonymity, said Gandhi arrived in New York City, on September 23, via British Airways. Milind Deora, the former Congress Lok Sabha MP from the Mumbai South constituency arrived a day earlier, on September 22, in New York City, to accompany Gandhi on his trip to Aspen.
Deora was also a former Minister of State in the ministry of Information Technology and Communications, and ministry of Shipping.
When he arrived in New York City, from India, around 11 pm, Gandhi spent time with 9 individuals at the airport, and despite several request by many of them to drop him off at a hotel, he insisted that it was late in the night and didn’t want any special favors, according to the source. Gandhi later took a cab to a hotel located near Central Park.
“He (Gandhi) came without security on the flight, like a commoner, and despite a long journey and late in the night, made time for all of us, listened to us patiently. He was also very humble, and insisted that we go home as it was late in the night,†said the source.
Gandhi and Deora left for the popular ski resort of Aspen, located in the Rocky Mountains, on September 24, where they attended the private conference, held behind closed doors, with access to delegates only by invitation. The conference ended today, September 28.
According to a report in the Aspen Times, the local newspaper, the conference hosted by Rose, which Gandhi attended, is a private one unlike the annual and official ‘Weekend with Charlie Rose,’ which is held traditionally in the months of June-July every year.
Last year, when probably the private conference started for the first time, or perhaps when it was noticed that such a conference is indeed held, residents noticed the extra security and it came out subsequently from local law enforcement personnel that Vice President Joe Biden was one of the attendees at the private meet. The Aspen Times had tried to find out if Gandhi was one of the participants this year but the organizers didn’t respond to the request.
Gandhi arrived in New York, today morning, according to a source, speaking on the condition of anonymity. In all likelihood, Gandhi is expected to hob nob with some members of the Indian National Overseas Congress, the official wing of the party, headed by Lavika Bhagat Singh, in the evening today.
The source also said that Gandhi had attended two round-table meets at the Aspen meet, on technology and the media. It’s not known if Deora also participated. Deora left for California on a private visit, after the meet in Aspen.
A source, also speaking on the condition of anonymity, said that though he doesn’t have time this time around to talk of the Congress ideology to the Indian Diaspora, as he is heading back to a busy election schedule in India, Gandhi will most probably do a four-city tour of the US, next year, around May. Gandhi has been asked to address meeting with the diaspora in New York City, Chicago, Atlanta and places in California.
“Mr. Rahul Gandhi is very interested to engage the Indian Diaspora through Google Hangouts also,†said a source.
Gandhi, it seems, expressed his happiness that the Indian National Overseas Congress is headed by a woman president for the first time through elections, in Lavika Bhagat Singh.
Gandhi leaves for India tonight. It’s not known when Deora will head back to India.
A side note: This reporter wants to profusely apologize to Mr. Rahul Gandhi for the incorrect story stating that he is not attending any meet in Aspen, Colorado. It was an incorrect story, and that cannot be rectified. However, this reporter also wants to point out that all efforts were made – inadequate as it turned out to be – to find out if indeed Mr. Gandhi was going to be in Aspen. The Aspen Institute had clarified in an interview that his name does not appear in the roster of their speakers. Aspen Institute also clarified later that they are in no way officially connected to the private meet that Charlie Rose conducts, which is a secret and hush hush affair. It’s also important to point out that the Congress Party had insisted that it was the ‘Weekend with Charlie Rose’ event that Gandhi was attending. That was incorrect, as there is only one event like that every ear, and that happened in the month of June-July this year, as it always has been, since its inception. Here’s the point: if it’s announced that the Jimmy Fallon show will be held weekdays, viewers switch on TV to watch his show at 11:35 pm, on weekdays. One doesn’t realize that Fallon also has an alternate show by the same name or otherwise at his home on weekends, behind closed doors, with no access to the public, to see what jokes are delivered. All this being said, the fact remains that The American Bazaar put out a wrong story, which was subsequently picked up by other media. It’s regretted.)
(Sujeet Rajan is the Editor-in-Chief, The American Bazaar).
(This story was revised on September 28, 2015)