'His lies damage nation's image abroad': Jaishankar slams Rahul Gandhi over US visit remarks

Jaishankar reacted to Rahul's remarks in LS targeting him and PM Modi over US visit.

New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday accused the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, of lying and damaging the nation's image abroad.

Rahul said that Jaishankar had visited the United States multiple times to secure an invitation for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the inauguration of Donald Trump as the President of the United States.

“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 Generals. During my stay, the incoming NSA-designate met with me,” Jaishankar posted on X.

“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,” he added.

Jaishankar visited Washington DC again between January 19 and 22 to attend the swearing-in ceremony of Trump. He also had a meeting with the new US Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, and attended a meeting of Quad.

“Rahul Gandhi’s lies may be intended politically. But they damage the nation abroad,” Jaishankar wrote on X.

“When we talk to the US, we would not send our foreign minister multiple times to request an invitation for the prime minister to the coronation,” Gandhi said while speaking in the Lok Sabha during the Motion of Thanks on the President's address.

"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," Gandhi added, stressing the need to boost domestic manufacturing.