Rahul Gandhi questions Modi government over Rubio-Jaishankar Mumbai meeting
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has criticized the Modi government over US Secretary of State Marco Rubio's upcoming India visit, alleging Washington is dictating diplomatic terms. The MEA confirmed External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will meet Rubio in Mumbai on October 20. Gandhi posted that Rubio "summoned his employee" to Mumbai, questioning confusion within the MEA after the US State Department announced the visit before India's formal confirmation. Congress leaders, including Jairam Ramesh and Pawan Khera, challenged the announcement sequence and US Ambassador Sergio Gor's remarks. The MEA defended the Mumbai venue, citing precedents of foreign dignitaries hosted in various Indian cities. Rubio's visit, his second in six months, aims to deepen energy cooperation amid trade tensions and US pressure over India's Russian energy purchases.