Rahul Gandhi's Washington Visit Sparks Diplomatic Controversy

Rahul Gandhi met key US officials and lawmakers in Washington, including controversial figure Ilhan Omar. The meetings were part of regular diplomatic engagements, but BJP has criticized Gandhi's interactions, accusing him of working against Indian interests. The Congress did not disclose detailed discussion points or video footage of the visit.

In a recent diplomatic engagement, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi met with a top US official in Washington. A US State Department spokesperson confirmed the meeting was a part of regular diplomatic interactions with global partners. Gandhi's interaction with Donald Lu, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia, precedes the American diplomat's visit to India and Bangladesh later this month.

The spokesperson further clarified that the US government routinely meets with government and opposition members, civil society, and other stakeholders in its regular diplomatic engagements. They refrained from commenting further on private diplomatic communications.

During his visit, Rahul Gandhi also interacted with American legislators at Capitol Hill, meeting several members of the India Caucus. He shared photographs of the meeting on social media, expressing satisfaction over meaningful discussions aimed at strengthening Indo-US relations.

However, the Congress party did not provide details or video footage of these discussions. Gandhi's three-day visit to the United States included engagements with the Indian diaspora, students, and US lawmakers. His visit commenced with meetings at the Rayburn House Office Building, hosted by Congressman Bradley James Sherman and attended by various US Congress members.

Following Gandhi's interaction with US Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) strongly criticized the meetings. BJP IT Cell head Amit Malviya accused the Congress of acting against Indian interests by engaging with Omar, whom he described as a radical anti-India voice.

BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla also condemned Gandhi's meeting with Omar. Highlighting her previous anti-India activities, Poonawalla questioned why Gandhi would engage with such elements during his foreign visits, implying it signified Congress's opposition to India's interests.

(With inputs from agencies.)