New Delhi, Feb 3 (PTI) – External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Monday refuted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s claim that his visit to Washington in December was aimed at securing an invitation for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend Donald Trump's presidential inauguration. Calling the statement a “falsehood,” Jaishankar asserted that no such discussion took place at any point.
Responding to Gandhi’s remarks in the Lok Sabha during a debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address, Jaishankar clarified that his visit to the U.S. had a different agenda. “We would not send our foreign minister to the United States to get our prime minister invited to the U.S. President's 'coronation',” Gandhi had said.
Taking to social media platform ‘X’, Jaishankar countered Gandhi’s statement, accusing him of deliberately spreading misinformation. “Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi deliberately spoke a falsehood about my visit to the U.S. in December 2024,” he wrote. The minister emphasized that the purpose of his trip was to hold meetings with then-Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan, in addition to chairing a meeting with India's Consuls General.
Jaishankar further clarified that during his stay, he also interacted with the incoming NSA-designate but at no point was an invitation for Modi discussed. “It is common knowledge that our PM does not attend such events. In fact, India is generally represented by Special Envoys,” he stated. He also accused Gandhi of attempting to gain political mileage with his remarks, cautioning that such statements could harm India's global standing.
Jaishankar's six-day visit to Washington from December 24 to 29 marked the first high-level engagement from India following Trump's electoral victory. His presence at the inauguration ceremony on January 20 as India’s representative reinforced the country's diplomatic ties with the new U.S. administration.
During his speech in the Lok Sabha, Gandhi envisioned how an INDIA bloc government would engage internationally, stating that a robust domestic production and technology ecosystem would naturally prompt the U.S. President to visit India and invite the Prime Minister.
The exchange highlights the ongoing political battle between the BJP and the Congress as both sides gear up for key diplomatic and domestic engagements in the coming months.
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