US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is arriving in India on an official visit on Friday, with plans to travel to Mumbai in Maharashtra and Jamnagar in Gujarat, according to the government.
Rubio’s schedule has drawn attention because it does not include New Delhi, which is typically the first stop for visiting foreign leaders. India’s Ambassador to the US, Sergio Gor, had earlier said Rubio and External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar would hold talks in Mumbai on October 20.
Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi criticised the arrangement, alleging that the visit had created confusion even among officials and calling for an explanation from Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Responding on Thursday, the Ministry of External Affairs said it has been a practice over the past decade to receive foreign leaders in cities other than Delhi. It cited examples of Prime Minister Modi welcoming Spain’s Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez in Vadodara, Germany’s leader Friedrich Merz in Ahmedabad, and Mauritius Prime Minister Navin Chandra Ramgoolam in Varanasi, and noted that international meetings have also been held in Goa, Kevadia and Amritsar.
The ministry also confirmed that Jaishankar is scheduled to meet and hold discussions with Rubio in Mumbai on October 20.
