NEW DELHI: The United States on Thursday called the recent interaction of leader of opposition Rahul Gandhi with its top official Donald Lu in Washington as ‘part of regular diplomatic engagement.’
“The US government meets with members of government and opposition parties, as well as civil society representatives and other stakeholders, as part of our regular diplomatic engagement with our partners,” the US department of state spokesperson said.
“We don’t have further comment on our private diplomatic communications,” the spokesperson added.
During the last leg of his three-day-trip to US, Gandhi met Donald Lu, assistant secretary of state, bureau of South and Central Asia. The American diplomat is set to visit to India and Bangladesh, later this month.
Gandhi also met American legislators at Capitol Hill. He met several members of the India Caucus during his visit.
Taking to X, Gandhi said, “It was a pleasure to meet with a delegation of US lawmakers at the Rayburn House in Washington, DC. We had a meaningful discussion about our shared commitment to building a progressive future and strengthening the Indo-US relations.”
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party launched a scathing attack on Gandhi and accused him of ‘openly working’ against the country after he met Congresswoman
Ilhan Omar
in Washington.
“India’s Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi meets Ilhan Omar in the USA, a Pakistan-sponsored anti-India voice, a radical Islamist, and an advocate of independent Kashmir,” BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya said in a post on X.
“Even Pakistani leaders would be more circumspect about being seen with such rabid elements. Congress is now openly working against India,” he added.
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla also targeted Gandhi and said, “After spewing venom against Sikhs & running down India on foreign soil now Rahul Gandhi meets & engages with anti India Ilhan Omar – 1) Ilhan had introduced anti India resolutions in US Congress 2) She has been against abrogation of Art 370 3) She violated India’s sovereignty & visited PoK on a trip sponsored by Pakistan 4) She met Imran Khan & other such elements to discuss “Islamophobia” in India 5) She has been instrumental in peddling hatred against Hindus Why did Rahul Gandhi have to meet her?”
“Why is he engaging with the most radical anti India elements on every foreign trip? In BJP virodh – desh virodh is ok?” Poonawalla added.
Rahul Gandhi, was on a three-day visit to the US, where he engaged with the Indian diaspora, students, and US lawmakers.
His trip began with meetings at the Rayburn House Office Building, hosted by Congressman Bradley James Sherman. Among the attendees were US Congress members Jonathan Jackson, Ro Khanna, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Barbara Lee, Shri Thanedar, Jesus G “Chuy” Garcia, Ilhan Omar, Hank Johnson, and Jan Schakowsky.
