Indian-American legislators from the United States, who were part of the delegation visiting Delhi for Independence Day celebrations, have expressed interest in holding a private meeting with the congressional leader. Rahul Gandhi.
The development was confirmed by senior Congress party official Praveen Chakravarty, who also said the party had requested an "official" and "official" request for the same.
"Several members of the delegation of US Congressmen have contacted us over the past few days to request a private meeting with Rahul Gandhi. We agree that we are happy to try to plan a meeting. for something when Mr. Gandhi will return from Wayanad," he said. speak.
“However, we have asked them to make a formal and official request for the delegation to meet Mr. Gandhi,” Chakravarty said. When asked if they expected the State Department (MEA) to authorize such a meeting to take place, Chakravarty stressed: "It's between the MEA and the delegation. Though I'm not sure why the MEA would. worry if a visiting delegation wants and has requested to meet the main opposition leader in a democracy."
Earlier, when asked if he had met with opposition leaders including Rahul Gandhi, US Representative RO Khanna said some people wanted to meet the US delegation. However, the Indian Ministry of External Affairs is expected to approve these requests. Rahul Gandhi's office clarified that he did not make this request.
On Monday, Khanna told India Today that the delegation was a guest of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "I and the whole delegation were invited by the Prime Minister and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. This is organized by them. I know that you want to meet the delegation and I have forwarded this request to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs." foreigners and I will follow their judgment. They have been very kind to us and have had some great encounters. I want to respect that," he said. "They're doing it through the host, the State Department. All of our meetings will be coordinated through our U.S. Embassy here and the State Department because they're our hosts. me," he added.
During the visit, the delegation is scheduled to meet Prime Minister Modi, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and other Indian ministers.
Khanna, a staunch supporter of the "progressive democrat", previously served in the Pakistan Congress Caucus in 2019. Currently, he co-chairs the US Congressional Caucus on Indians and Native Americans, along with Republican Congressman Michael Waltz. Representatives Khanna and Michael Waltz were joined by Congresswoman Deborah Ross, Kat Cammack, Shri Thanedar, and Jasmine Crockett, as well as members of the Indian National Congress and Indian-American group members Rich McCormick and Ed Case.
The delegation consisted of only two Indian-American legislators, RO Khanna and Thanedar, one of whom personally phoned Chakravarty, requesting a private meeting with Rahul Gandhi, India Today reported.
This is not the first time such a meeting has been requested by members of the US Congress.
