Analysis: Was Rahul Gandhi Truly Invited to Deliver Lectures at Cambridge University?

By
Vikrant Singh
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Analysis
Rahul Gandhi attended private event at Jesus College of Cambridge University

With the upcoming 2024 general election just weeks away, Congress Yuvraj temporarily halted his Bharat Jodo yatra, citing the impending visit to the esteemed Cambridge University for the delivery of two lectures. Jairam Ramesh, a prominent Congress leader, explained the hiatus, triggering divergent interpretations. BJP supporters contended that Rahul Gandhi opted for a lifeboat, abandoning ship (Congress Party), while Congress enthusiasts celebrated Gandhi’s intellectual prowess, asserting that prestigious universities, including Cambridge, sought his insights through lecture invitations.

Several tweets have been shared by ardent supporters of the Congress party. (Harhvardhan Tiwari, News 24, Ashish, Prashant Kumar, Supriya Bhardwaj, Newton, Shantanu, Manish Singh)

In the above-shared photo, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is captured on a platform, adorned in a buttoned-up suit with his left hand tucked into the pocket, seemingly engrossed in articulating a message.

Also Read: Congress Party Shares Edited Video of Nitin Gadkari, Misleading the Public Once Again

Was Rahul Gandhi actually invited to Cambridge University to give lectures?

The authenticity of Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Cambridge University to deliver lectures became a topic of intense discussion following a tweet by independent researcher Star Boy Tarun. Tarun expressed doubts about the legitimacy of a shared photo, citing discrepancies in Gandhi’s body language. Tarun’s tweet questioned the photo’s veracity, pointing to Gandhi’s hand gesture, facial expressions, and the presence of empty chairs and two girls in the background.

In response, Santosh Warrer wrote that the event took place in Jesus College Cambridge’s cafeteria, not at Cambridge University, sharing pictures of the cafeteria and the college seal.

Furthermore, both OpIndia and The Hawk Eye, an OSINT platform, sought clarification from Cambridge University about Rahul Gandhi’s visit. Helen Frame, the College Manager of Communications and Marketing, confirmed that the event was an external, commercial booking, emphasizing that the college had no role in organizing or financing it.

Helen, the Manager of Communications and Marketing at Jesus College, explicitly stated in her email response, “The event was an external, commercial booking, and the College had no role in organizing or financing it.“

Source- The Hawk Eye, X

Additionally, OpIndia uncovered that the widely circulated image featuring Rahul Gandhi posing was, in fact, a photograph taken in Elena Hall at Jesus College, Cambridge University.

Subsequently, our inquiry extended to The Jesus College’s official website, where details regarding Elena Hall were provided. The website said, “The Elena Hall is part of a contemporary warehouse conversion, with natural light, high ceilings and white walls hung with artwork. It is often paired with the adjacent Sibilla Room. 

A spacious and versatile ground floor hall connected to West Court, with huge picture windows offering views of the orchard. Ideal for presentations, meetings, events and group dining.”

Source- Jesus College

Furthermore, The Pamphlet, a news portal, reached out to the spokesperson of Jesus College, who verified that the event was a commercial booking. The college explicitly disassociated itself from the organization and financing of the said event. The spokesperson clarified, “I am representing the college, not the university.” Moreover, the spokesperson acknowledged that Elena Hall is available for commercial bookings, emphasizing the college’s openness to external events utilizing their spaces. The spokesperson concluded by stating that they would not delve into specifics regarding the entity responsible for booking Elena Hall for Rahul Gandhi’s event.

The collective evidence strongly suggests that Rahul Gandhi’s visit to Jesus College during the electoral campaign was for a privately paid event, unrelated to Cambridge University’s official invitation. Despite the ongoing turbulence in Himachal Pradesh, the sole North Indian state currently under Congress rule, and with only a few weeks left before the elections, Gandhi suspended the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra for an event, for which there are no videos available on Rahul Gandhi or INC YouTube channels. In essence, Cambridge University did not extend an invitation for lectures; rather, Rahul Gandhi visited Jesus College for an external commercial event, leaving questions about the purpose and organizer of this booking unanswered.

Also Read: Unraveling the Truth: The Real Reason Behind Shreyas Iyer’s Contract Cancellation by BCCI

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