Congress Criticizes Modi Government Over Marco Rubio's India Visit
The Indian National Congress criticized the government after U.S. officials announced Secretary of State Marco Rubio's visit to Mumbai and Jamnagar before the Indian government did.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio is scheduled to visit Uzbekistan and India from October 17 to 22 to strengthen strategic partnerships and energy cooperation. During the India leg of the trip, Rubio will travel to Mumbai and Jamnagar to meet with business leaders and government officials. U.S. Ambassador Sergio Gor described the visit as business-focused, highlighting opportunities in trade, technology, and investment.
The visit sparked a political row in India after Ambassador Gor publicly stated that U.S. officials expected External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar to meet Rubio in Mumbai. The Indian National Congress questioned why the Ministry of External Affairs remained silent while a foreign diplomat provided the details of the minister's domestic engagements. Rahul Gandhi and Pawan Khera alleged that Rubio had summoned Jaishankar to Mumbai and was skipping New Delhi, with Khera calling the arrangement a new low for the government.
Following the opposition's criticism, the Ministry of External Affairs confirmed that S. Jaishankar will hold talks with Rubio in Mumbai on October 20. The meeting coincides with the 250th anniversary of United States independence, where Jaishankar will serve as the guest of honor. The ministry also noted that Jaishankar will host UAE Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Mumbai on October 19 and 20.
