Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday criticized the central government regarding US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's scheduled meetings with Indian officials in Mumbai next week, asserting that personnel within the external affairs ministry were confused about the arrangements.
In a post on social media, Gandhi remarked that Rubio had allegedly summoned officials to Mumbai, addressing Prime Minister Narendra Modi directly and suggesting that the administration explain the diplomatic protocol unless he needed to do so himself.
The opposition leader's comments appeared to reference statements made by US ambassador Sergio Gor at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum. During the event, Gor stated that Rubio would engage with Indian government officials in Mumbai and expressed an expectation that External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar would be present.
Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera also weighed in, stating that the ambassador's confirmation that Rubio would bypass New Delhi and instead meet in Mumbai represented a concerning shift in diplomatic engagement.
This trip marks Rubio's second visit to India within the year, following a previous journey in May where he met with Prime Minister Modi and Jaishankar alongside participating in a Quad foreign ministers meeting amid ongoing bilateral diplomatic complexities.
The US State Department announced that Rubio's two-nation itinerary begins in Uzbekistan before heading to India, with planned stops in Mumbai and Jamnagar. While official dates were not part of the initial release, individuals familiar with the schedule indicated an expected arrival in Mumbai on October 18.
According to the State Department, the discussions aim to reinforce the strategic partnership between the United States and India, review regional and global developments, and explore avenues for deeper energy collaboration. Rubio is also scheduled to interact with corporate leaders to advance investment prospects and economic ties.