S Jaishankar, the minister of external affairs, denied on Monday that Rahul Gandhi, the leader of the opposition in the Lok Sabha, had been to the United States in December to obtain an invitation for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend Donald Trump’s inauguration.
Rahul Gandhi was charged by Jaishankar with purposefully disseminating untruths over his December trip to the US.
Jaishankar wrote on X, “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. 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”.
Rahul Gandhi’s remarks in Parliament
Speaking in the Lok Sabha during the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address, Rahul Gandhi asserted that the foreign minister had been to the US “multiple times” in order to ask for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to be invited to Trump’s inauguration.
Gandhi stated in the Lok Sabha, “When we talk to the USA, we would not send our foreign minister multiple times to request an invitation for the Prime Minister to the coronation”.
Gandhi added, while emphasising the need to focus on production of goods and technology in the country, “Because if we had a production system and if we were working on technologies, the American President would come here and invite the Prime Minister”.
However, Gandhi’s comments about Prime Minister Modi were criticized by Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju.
Rijiju told the House, “Leader of Opposition cannot make such serious unsubstantial statement. This is related to the relation between two countries and he is making an unverified statement about the invitation of the Prime Minister of our country….”.
Gandhi added, “I apologise for disturbing your peace of mind…” as the commotion persisted.
On January 20, Donald Trump took the oath of office as the 47th president of the United States.
S Jaishankar, the minister of external affairs, attended the swearing-in ceremony on behalf of India. Before that, from December 24 to 29, Jaishankar visited the United States for six days.
The external affairs ministry announced on Friday that India is coordinating with the United States for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to make a “early” trip to Washington in order to strengthen the two countries’ comprehensive global strategic alliance.
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