Congress MP Shashi Tharoor responded curtly on Wednesday when reporters in Thiruvananthapuram asked him about Rahul Gandhi's latest foreign trip, IANS reported.

Source: IANS

'I am not a travel agent,' Tharoor said, adding, 'I am here now and mind you, everyone has their own reasons.' Tharoor, who represents Thiruvananthapuram in the Lok Sabha, offered no explanation for the Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition's travel plans, HiIndia reported in its account of the same IANS report.

Source: HiIndia (IANS)

In a fuller account, Tharoor was quoted as saying there was no point in asking him that question and that every person has certain responsibilities, so he could not comment. The remarks came after the BJP stepped up criticism of Gandhi over his alleged foreign trip amid protests in New Delhi against Chief Election Commissioner Gyanesh Kumar and the SIR exercise, 7Globe reported. The BJP's claim about the trip's destination is its own allegation and is reported as such.

Source: 7Globe

BJP leader Shahnawaz Hussain took a swipe at Gandhi, suggesting, in the BJP's criticism, that he needed a break after the protests. Congress leader Sandeep Dikshit, however, defended Gandhi, questioning why who travels where and when was an issue and noting that Gandhi interacts with students and intellectuals abroad, 7Globe reported.

Source: 7Globe

Tharoor's brief response drew attention because his public remarks are closely watched for signals about his relationship with the Congress leadership, IANS noted. He made clear he would speak for himself, not explain another leader's movements.

Sources: IANS, HiIndia, 7Globe.