Government, BJP Dismiss Rahul Gandhi’s Lok Sabha Remarks as “Unsubstantiated Falsehood”

Foreign Minister S Jaishankar on Monday rejected allegations made by Rahul Gandhi in Parliament, denying that he had been sent multiple times to secure an invitation for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend Donald Trump’s inauguration as US President.

“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,” S Jaishankar clarified in a post on X.

Jaishankar further asserted that the issue of an invitation for the Prime Minister was never discussed, stating, “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.”

BJP’s Strong Response to Rahul Gandhi’s Comments

The Minister accused the Congress leader of harming India’s image on the global stage. “Rahul Gandhi’s lies may be intended politically. But they damage the nation abroad,” Jaishankar said.

Rahul Gandhi made his claims while responding to the Motion of Thanks on the President’s Address in the Lok Sabha. Prime Minister Narendra Modi was present in the House when Gandhi made his remarks.

“When we talk to the United States, we would not send the foreign minister three-four times to get an invite for our Prime Minister because 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 asserted.

BJP MPs, led by Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju, strongly objected to the statement, calling it unsubstantiated and damaging to India’s foreign relations.

“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,” said Rijiju.

He further demanded proof, insisting, “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.”

PM Modi’s Call with Donald Trump

Last Monday, Prime Minister Modi had a conversation with Trump over the phone, congratulating his “dear friend on his historic second term.”

Modi emphasized India’s commitment to a “mutually beneficial and trusted partnership” with the United States.

Donald Trump was sworn in as the 47th US President on January 20, and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar attended the event as India’s representative.

Rahul Gandhi’s Comments on China Spark Controversy

During the debate on the Motion of Thanks, Gandhi also alleged that China had occupied Indian territory and that the Prime Minister had denied this fact.

“Today, we have the Chinese (on our land), but the Prime Minister has denied it,” he claimed.

“The PM has denied that Chinese forces are inside our territory, but for some reason, our army keeps talking to the Chinese about their entry into our territory, and our Chief of Army Staff has said that the Chinese are inside our territory.”

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh rebuffed these statements, accusing Gandhi of misrepresenting the Army Chief’s words.

“The Army Chief’s remarks referred only to the disturbance of traditional patrolling by both sides. He also mentioned that these practices have been restored to their traditional pattern as part of the recent disengagement. The government has shared these details in Parliament,” Singh clarified in a post on X.

Singh also criticized Gandhi for ignoring historical context, stating, “If at all there is Indian territory into which China has come, this is 38,000 sq. km in Aksai Chin as a result of the 1962 conflict and 5,180 sq. km. illegally ceded by Pakistan to China in 1963. Shri Rahul Gandhi may consider introspecting about this phase of our history.”

BJP Slams Rahul Gandhi Over Foreign Policy and China Remarks

The BJP also attacked Rahul Gandhi for his repeated references to China, stating that he mentioned the country 35 times in his speech, displaying what they described as his “love for China.”

Additionally, the BJP targeted former Congress president Sonia Gandhi and expressed hope that Rajya Sabha Chairman Jagdeep Dhankhar would take action on the breach of privilege notice submitted by BJP tribal members against her.

The notice concerns allegedly “derogatory and slanderous” remarks she made against President Droupadi Murmu in the Parliament complex.

During his speech, Rahul Gandhi also claimed that an INDIA bloc-led government would not have sent its Foreign Minister to the US to seek an invitation for the Prime Minister to attend the American President’s “coronation.”