External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi does not attend the inauguration of world leaders or such kinds of events after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged that the minister went to the US in December to secure an invite to the coronation for the Prime Minister.
Jaishankar said India is represented in such events by envoys and that he went to meet officials of the outgoing Biden administration.
The minister said the Congress leader’s statements hurt India’s image abroad.
“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,” Jaishankar said in a social media post.
“Rahul Gandhi’s lies may be intended politically. But they damage the nation abroad,” he said, adding that he met the Secretary of State and NSA of the Biden Administration and chaired a gathering India’s Consuls General. He said that the “the incoming NSA-designate met with” him during his stay.
The Lok Sabha witnessed a heated exchange on Monday during the Budget Session after Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi claimed that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was sent to the inauguration of US President Donald Trump in Washington to secure an invitation to the US President’s inauguration for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“When we talk to the United States, we would not send our foreign minister to invite our Prime Minister to his coronation. Because if we had a production system and if we were working on these technologies, the American President would come here and invite the Prime Minister,” Rahul Gandhi said, while claiming that Indian industries are lagging behind China in terms of data.
The remark angered the treasury benches and the Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju strongly opposed the statement.
Rijiju said that “such an unsubstantiated claim” regarding India’s foreign policy could not be allowed in the parliament.“The Leader of Opposition cannot make such a serious unsubstantial statement. This concerns the relationship between two countries, and he is making an unverified claim about the Prime Minister’s invitation,” Rijiju said.Following the exchange in the Lok Sabha, Rijiju met Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, seeking action against Rahul Gandhi. Sources speaking to News18 said he may ask for Gandhi to either substantiate his claim or have his statement expunged from the parliamentary records.
Responding to Rijiju’s objections, Rahul Gandhi remarked, “I apologize for disturbing your peace of mind”.
