Minister visited US to get Modi invited to Trump's inauguration: Rahul

ISLAMABAD: A heated debate erupted in the Indian Parliament on Monday against the backdrop of the news that Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is visiting Washington to meet President Trump next week (February 12).

Indian External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar Monday accused the Leader of the opposition Rahul Gandhi of resorting to "falsehood" after the Congress leader suggested that the minister's visit to Washington in December was to manage an invite for the prime minister to Donald Trump's inauguration as the president. "We would not send our foreign minister to the United States to get our prime minister invited to the US President's 'coronation'," Gandhi said in Lok Sabha while participating in a debate on the 'Motion of Thanks' to the President's address.

In a post on 'X' Jaishankar said "Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi deliberately spoke a falsehood about my visit to the US in December 2024." He said he visited the US to meet then Secretary of State Antony Blinken and NSA Jake Sullivan as well as to chair a meeting of India's consuls general. "During my stay, the incoming NSA-designate met with me," he said. "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. "Rahul Gandhi's lies may be intended politically. But they damage the nation abroad," he added.

Gandhi told the Parliament that the US did not invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi due to the lack of a production system in India. "...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," he said. Modi was seated in the Lok Sabha when Rahul made this remark.

Earlier, Rahul Gandhi launched a sharp attack on the Centre, alleging that India's dependence on Chinese products is a major national security concern. He linked the failure of the 'Make in India' initiative to the presence of Chinese forces inside Indian territory.

“Our Chief of Army Staff has said the Chinese are inside our territory. This is a fact. The reason China is inside our territory is important... because 'Make in India' has failed. The reason China is sitting inside this country is because India is refusing to produce, and I am worried that India is going to give up this revolution to the Chinese once again,” Gandhi said in the Lok Sabha on January 31. Highlighting concerns over India's defence preparedness, he warned that in case of a conflict, the country would be reliant on Chinese-made components. "If and when we fight a war with China, we will be fighting with Chinese electric motors, batteries and Chinese optics," the Congress leader said while objections from MPs of the Bharatiya Janata Party.