India
‘Regular diplomatic engagement’: US on Rahul Gandhi meeting with Donald Lu in Washington | India News – Times of India
NEW DELHI: The United States on Thursday termed the recent meeting between opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and its top official Donald Lu in Washington as “part of regular diplomatic relations”.
“The U.S. government is meeting with members of the government and opposition parties, as well as civil society representatives and other stakeholders. This is part of our regular diplomatic engagement with our partners,” the U.S. State Department spokesperson said.
“We have no further comment on our private diplomatic communications,” the spokesman said.
During the final leg of his three-day trip to the US, Gandhi met Donald Lu, assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asia. The US diplomat will visit India and Bangladesh later this month.
Gandhi also met American lawmakers on Capitol Hill. He met several members of the India Caucus during his visit.
Gandhi said of X: “It was a pleasure to meet 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 Indo-US relations.”
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party launched a scathing attack on Gandhi, accusing him of “openly working against the country” after he met Congresswoman Ilhan Omar in Washington.
“India’s opposition leader Rahul Gandhi meets Ilhan Omar in the US, a Pakistan-sponsored anti-India voice, a radical Islamist and a proponent of independent Kashmir,” BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya said in a post on X.
“Even Pakistani leaders would be more cautious about being seen with such fanatical elements. The Congress is now openly working against India,” he added.
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla also targeted Gandhi and said, “After spewing venom against Sikhs and trashing India on foreign soil, Rahul Gandhi is now meeting anti-India Ilhan Omar and engaging in dialogue with him. 1) Ilhan had moved anti-India resolutions in the US Congress. 2) She was against abrogation of Article 370. 3) She is violating India’s sovereignty and visited PoK on a Pakistan-sponsored trip. 4) She met Imran Khan and other such elements to discuss ‘Islamophobia’ in India. 5) She has played a major role in spreading hatred against Hindus. Why did Rahul Gandhi have to meet her?”
“Why does he take up arms against the most radical anti-India elements on every foreign trip? In BJP virodh – desh virodh is ok?” Poonawalla added.
Rahul Gandhi paid a three-day visit to the US, where he interacted with the Indian diaspora, students and American lawmakers.
His journey began with meetings at the Rayburn House Office Building, hosted by Congressman Bradley James Sherman. Among those in attendance were U.S. Congressmen Jonathan Jackson, Ro Khanna, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Barbara Lee, Shri Thanedar, Jesus G “Chuy” Garcia, Ilhan Omar, Hank Johnson and Jan Schakowsky.
“The U.S. government is meeting with members of the government and opposition parties, as well as civil society representatives and other stakeholders. This is part of our regular diplomatic engagement with our partners,” the U.S. State Department spokesperson said.
“We have no further comment on our private diplomatic communications,” the spokesman said.
During the final leg of his three-day trip to the US, Gandhi met Donald Lu, assistant secretary of state for South and Central Asia. The US diplomat will visit India and Bangladesh later this month.
Gandhi also met American lawmakers on Capitol Hill. He met several members of the India Caucus during his visit.
Gandhi said of X: “It was a pleasure to meet 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 Indo-US relations.”
Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party launched a scathing attack on Gandhi, accusing him of “openly working against the country” after he met Congresswoman Ilhan Omar in Washington.
“India’s opposition leader Rahul Gandhi meets Ilhan Omar in the US, a Pakistan-sponsored anti-India voice, a radical Islamist and a proponent of independent Kashmir,” BJP IT cell chief Amit Malviya said in a post on X.
“Even Pakistani leaders would be more cautious about being seen with such fanatical elements. The Congress is now openly working against India,” he added.
BJP spokesperson Shehzad Poonawalla also targeted Gandhi and said, “After spewing venom against Sikhs and trashing India on foreign soil, Rahul Gandhi is now meeting anti-India Ilhan Omar and engaging in dialogue with him. 1) Ilhan had moved anti-India resolutions in the US Congress. 2) She was against abrogation of Article 370. 3) She is violating India’s sovereignty and visited PoK on a Pakistan-sponsored trip. 4) She met Imran Khan and other such elements to discuss ‘Islamophobia’ in India. 5) She has played a major role in spreading hatred against Hindus. Why did Rahul Gandhi have to meet her?”
“Why does he take up arms against the most radical anti-India elements on every foreign trip? In BJP virodh – desh virodh is ok?” Poonawalla added.
Rahul Gandhi paid a three-day visit to the US, where he interacted with the Indian diaspora, students and American lawmakers.
His journey began with meetings at the Rayburn House Office Building, hosted by Congressman Bradley James Sherman. Among those in attendance were U.S. Congressmen Jonathan Jackson, Ro Khanna, Raja Krishnamoorthi, Barbara Lee, Shri Thanedar, Jesus G “Chuy” Garcia, Ilhan Omar, Hank Johnson and Jan Schakowsky.
