New Delhi: External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Monday refuted claims made by Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over the EAM’s visit to the United States ahead of President Donald Trump’s inauguration. In a post on X, Jaishankar accused Gandhi of deliberately “spreading falsehoods that harm India’s image abroad”.
Jaishankar was on a visit to the US from December 24 to 29 December. It was the first high-level trip to Washington following Trump’s victory in the presidential election. “He will be meeting counterparts to discuss key bilateral, regional and global issues. During the visit, EAM will also chair a conference of the Consul Generals of India in the USA,” a statement from Ministry of External Affairs read at the time.
Rahul was addressing the Lok Sabha
Rahul Gandhi was addressing the Lok Sabha during the motion of thanks on the President’s address. He alleged that an INDIA bloc government would not have sent its foreign minister to the US to seek an invitation for the prime minister to attend the American president’s “coronation”. Gandhi suggested that repeated trips were made to secure such an invite. “When we talk to the US, we wouldn’t send our Foreign Minister to invite our PM to his (US President’s) coronation. We will not send our foreign minister 3-4 times (to say) please invite our prime minister… because if we had a production system and were working on these technologies, the US President would come here and invite the PM,” Gandhi said.
His remarks triggered immediate protests from the treasury benches. Union minister Kiren Rijiju urged Gandhi to refrain from making “unsubstantiated allegations” about the country’s foreign policy.
‘Common knowledge that the PM does not attend such events’
Hitting back at Gandhi’s remarks, Jaishankar wrote: “Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi deliberately spoke a falsehood about my visit to the US in December 2024. I went to meet the Secretary of State and NSA of the Biden Administration. Also to chair a gathering of our Consuls General. During my stay, the incoming NSA-designate met with me. At no stage was an invitation in respect of the PM discussed.”
The minister further stated that it is “common knowledge” that the prime minister does not attend such events, as India is usually represented by special envoys. “It is common knowledge that our PM does not attend such events. In fact, India is generally represented by Special Envoys. Rahul Gandhi’s lies may be intended politically. But they damage the nation abroad,” he added.
Last month, Jaishankar represented India at Trump’s inauguration as the 47th President of the United States.
