External Affairs Minister (EAM) S Jaishankar has strongly refuted allegations made by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi that he visited the United States to secure an invitation for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend Donald Trump’s inauguration in January 2024. In a no-holds-barred response, Jaishankar accused Gandhi of spreading a “deliberate falsehood” that tarnishes India’s reputation on the international stage.
The controversy erupted in the Lok Sabha when Rahul Gandhi, in his address during the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s address, attacked the Modi government on various fronts, including the country’s economic policies. Gandhi took a swipe at the government’s diplomatic strategy, claiming that India had to send the Foreign Minister to the US “multiple times” in order to secure an invitation for Prime Minister Modi to attend Trump’s inauguration, calling it an “unnecessary” and “uncalled-for” effort. He went on to claim that the absence of a strong industrial base in India was the reason why the US President did not personally invite the Indian Prime Minister.
Gandhi’s remarks were made in the context of his broader criticism of India’s economic policies and the government’s foreign relations. “When we talk to the United States, we shouldn’t send a foreign minister three-four times to get an invitation for our Prime Minister. If we had a production system, and we were working on these technologies, the US President would come here and invite the Prime Minister,” Gandhi said.
However, Jaishankar was quick to hit back at the allegations. The External Affairs Minister took to social media platform X to vehemently deny Gandhi’s claims, describing them as entirely false. In his detailed response, Jaishankar stated, “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. I also chaired a gathering of our Consuls General. During my stay, the incoming NSA-designate met with me. At no stage was any discussion held regarding an invitation for PM Modi.”
Jaishankar further clarified that it was “common knowledge” that the Indian Prime Minister does not attend such events and that India is typically represented at such occasions by Special Envoys, not by the Prime Minister himself. He categorically stated, “In fact, India is generally represented by Special Envoys. Rahul Gandhi’s lies may be politically motivated, but they damage the nation abroad.”
The EAM’s response was also a pointed rejection of Gandhi’s broader economic critique, especially the notion that India’s lack of a strong industrial base is to blame for not being personally invited to the US President’s inauguration. Jaishankar firmly rejected the notion that the Prime Minister’s attendance at Trump’s inauguration was ever under consideration, and the claim that India needed to lobby for an invite was both misleading and unfounded.
The accusations came at a time when Jaishankar had already made significant strides in strengthening India’s relationship with the United States. His visit to Washington in December 2024 was primarily aimed at engaging with key figures in the Biden administration, including the Secretary of State and the National Security Advisor, as well as attending strategic meetings with Indian Consuls General. During his visit, there was no mention of any ceremonial invite for Prime Minister Modi.
In a broader context, Jaishankar’s rebuttal was also an implicit defense of the government’s foreign policy and diplomatic engagements, which have been critical to India’s positioning on the world stage. By taking to social media to debunk the allegations, Jaishankar took a proactive stance in defending not only his own actions but also the government’s international reputation.
The verbal sparring between Jaishankar and Gandhi prompted further reactions from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, a staunch ally of the government, also weighed in on the controversy, calling on Rahul Gandhi to provide proof for his claims. Rijiju said, “The Leader of the Opposition cannot make such serious, unsubstantiated statements. This is about the relationship between two countries. He is making unverified statements about the invitation of our Prime Minister. He should be responsible for the statements he makes. If the Leader of the Opposition has the information, he must tell the House who has told him that the Foreign Minister visited for this purpose.”
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