New Delhi, Sep 23 (IANS): The BJP on Wednesday took potshots at Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi for going on a foreign trip ahead of the Bihar assembly election.

The party said Gandhi was asked to stay away from the Bihar elections by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar and RJD chief Lalu Prasad.

"Rahul Gandhi has all the right to go for a vacation, as in recent days he has worked hard for the party and has addressed a few rallies," BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra told reporters.

"Rahul and responsibility never go together," he added.

Patra said that as Nitish Kumar and Lalu Prasad were not comfortable with Gandhi as he stands for corruption, he was forced to stay away from Bihar.

"Gandhi has been sent for a forceful (sic) vacation as Nitish and Lalu were not comfortable with his presence in Bihar, because his stay anywhere near Bihar is going to harm their electoral chances," he said.

Patra questioned the Congress clarification on Gandhi's trip.

"The Congress party initially comes out and says that Rahul Gandhi is on a personal visit and, thereafter, they say that he is not on a personal visit, but is going to Aspen to attend a conference," he said.

"I and the country would really like to know that an expert without any knowledge is attending which foreign conference? He hardly was seen at any Indian conferences or seminars," Patra added.

Union minister Prakash Javadekar also took a jibe at Gandhi and the Congress.

"Leave aside the people of the country, even Congress leaders don't know where he has gone," he said.