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External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar Monday accused 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 United States 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.
"Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi deliberately spoke a falsehood about my visit to the US in December 2024," Jaishankar said in a post on 'X'.
The external affairs minister 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.
The external affairs minister paid a six-day visit to the US from December 24 to 29. It was the first high-level trip from India to Washington after Trump won the US presidential election.
Last month, Jaishankar represented India at the inauguration of Trump as the 47th President of the United States.
Speaking to the Motion of Thanks on the President's address, Gandhi Gandhi said in the Parliament that the US did not invite Prime Minister Narendra Modi due to the lack of production system in India.
"When we talk to the United States, we would not send our foreign minister to invite our Prime Minister to his coronation...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.
BJP MPs led by Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju also took objection to Rahul Gandhi's remarks.
Rijiju said, "Leader of Opposition cannot make such serious unsubstantial statement. This is related to the relation between two countries and he is making an unverified statement about the invitation of the Prime Minister of our country." Responding to Rijiju, Rahul Gandhi said, "I apologize for disturbing your peace of mind."
Modi was seated in the Lok Sabha while Rahul made this remarks.
With inputs from ANI