Strongly rejecting the claims made by the Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday shot down the suggestion that Gandhi will visit the United States in December 2024. Jaishankar had travelled to the US to ensure an invitation for PM Narendra Modi for the inauguration ceremony of then President-elect Donald Trump Gandhi had alleged.
Jaishankar refused to give credence to these words and accused Gandhi of deliberately broadcasting misinformation about his trip. However, in a post here on X, Jaishankar clarified that it was not a diplomatic mission, but the visit was intended to meet the key officials from the Biden Administration, including the Secretary of State and the National Security Advisor (NSA). He also mentioned that in his US stint, he attended a meeting with the Indian consul general; and met the incoming NSA-designate. At no time, the question of an invitation to Prime Minister Modi came during the visit, said Jaishankar.
Maintaining the point that it comes as no news that Prime Minister Modi does not show up at these inauguration events, the External Affairs Minister pointed out that in most cases, India is represented in such events by Special Envoys. Rahul Gandhi, he accused of making politically motivated and false statements that would damage India’s image abroad.
Reacting, Rahul Gandhi, while delivering his speech in Lok Sabha on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address, said that the Foreign Minister had made numerous visits to the United States so that they could get an invitation for Prime Minister Modi to attend Trump’s inauguration. In addition, Gandhi seized the chance to criticize the government’s foreign policy by saying if we had a strong production and technological base the American President himself would have personally invited the Indian Prime Minister to the event and not sent the foreign minister again and again.
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