Indian External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar has hit back at criticism over his meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio in Mumbai, questioning Rahul Gandhi's description of the visit as a "summons."
Speaking at the NDTV World Summit, Jaishankar said he could not understand the negative reaction, especially the criticism of Mumbai as the venue. "I failed to get it… Maybe Mumbai doesn't like them," he remarked.
Defending the choice of Mumbai, he said, "It's our financial capital. It's our Bollywood capital. It has got so much going for it." The External Affairs Minister called the criticism baseless.
Jaishankar argued that if meeting a foreign leader outside the national capital is considered a "summoning," then many historical precedents could be cited. He referenced former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi's 1972 meeting with Pakistan's then-President Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in Shimla.
"Was she too… summoned on that occasion?" he questioned. During that meeting, the two leaders signed the historic Shimla Agreement.
Jaishankar's remarks served as a firm response to domestic critics attempting to politicize a routine diplomatic engagement, reflecting the Indian government's confidence on the international stage.
Source: NDTV
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