Marco Rubio:The meeting between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Mumbai has sparked a political row, with Congress leader Rahul Gandhi raising a question on the diplomatic engagement.
Why Did Rahul Gandhi Question The Mumbai Meeting?
Earlier, Rahul Gandhi demanded to know why Jaishankar was supposed to meet Rubio in Mumbai instead of in New Delhi. Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi also expressed his disapproval of the arrangements and demanded that Modi send a clarification to the public on X.
His comments came after US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said that Rubio will have meetings with Indian government officials in Mumbai and that it was likely Jaishankar would also attend the talks. The Congress leaders sought to know why the US ambassador had revealed the Indian foreign minister’s engagement before the MEA had issued an official statement.
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How Did the Government Respond?
The MEA rejected the suggestion that hosting the meeting in Mumbai was unusual. Ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said India had regularly hosted foreign dignitaries in different cities over the past decade. In support of the statement, the ministry pointed to past diplomatic visits to Vadodara, Ahmedabad, Varanasi, Goa, Kevadia and Amritsar, which saw Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other national and international dignitaries converging in the cities, as well as events organised by Jaishankar. The government also said that Jaishankar will meet his US counterpart in Mumbai on October 20. Jaishankar is set to host Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of UAE, in Mumbai on October 19 and 20.
What Will Jaishankar and Rubio Discuss?
Prior to the meeting, it is reported that the agenda is likely to be on deepening the India–U.S. strategic partnership. The MEA said issues that are likely to be raised include cooperation in energy, trade and investment, defence, critical and emerging technologies, and global and regional issues. Rubio’s trip to the country will also see him visiting Jamnagar in Gujarat, where he is likely to meet business moguls from Reliance.
Why Has The Meeting Become A Political Issue?
Marco Rubio: The kerfuffle was not just about having Mumbai as a destination but also about how information of the meeting was dispensed. Congress leaders asked why the US ambassador made a public statement regarding Jaishankar’s anticipated attendance and not the Indian government. The government has also maintained that such an informal diplomatic visit outside Delhi was not unusual. So the row has also cast the spotlight on diplomatic protocol, official communication, and the politics of India–US engagement.
