The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Friday defended India’s practice of hosting foreign dignitaries in cities beyond New Delhi after Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi questioned the Government over US Secretary of State Marco Rubio’s proposed meeting with Indian officials in Mumbai. The ministry said India had regularly hosted foreign leaders and officials in different cities over the past decade, citing several diplomatic engagements involving Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.
“The practice over the last decade has been to host foreign dignitaries from time to time in various cities of India,” the MEA said in response to the controversy.
The ministry cited Modi’s meetings with the Spanish prime minister in Vadodara, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Ahmedabad and the prime minister of Mauritius in Varanasi. It also highlighted Jaishankar’s participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) foreign ministers’ meeting in Goa, his meeting with Botswana’s foreign minister in Kevadia and the Heart of Asia conference in Amritsar.
The MEA’s response came after Gandhi criticised the Government in a post on X, questioning the circumstances surrounding Rubio’s proposed meeting with Indian officials in Mumbai.
“Mr Rubio has summoned his employee to Mumbai,” Gandhi wrote, referring to the planned engagement with Jaishankar. He also suggested that Prime Minister Narendra Modi clarify the situation, claiming that officials in the External Affairs Ministry were confused about the arrangements. The remarks followed comments by US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor, who outlined details of Rubio’s forthcoming visit during an interactive session at the Bloomberg New Economy Forum. Gor said Rubio would meet Indian government representatives in Mumbai, with Jaishankar expected to join discussions alongside other officials travelling from Delhi. Congress general secretary for communications Jairam Ramesh had also questioned the MEA’s handling of the announcement a day earlier.
Ramesh objected to the information about Jaishankar’s expected participation being shared by the US ambassador rather than the Indian foreign ministry’s official spokesperson. He questioned why details of the external affairs minister’s meetings within India were being announced by a foreign official.
Ramesh also referred to Operation Sindoor, alleging that India had learnt from Rubio on the evening of May 10, 2025, that the operation had been halted. He questioned why the MEA had not officially announced Jaishankar’s proposed meeting with Rubio in Mumbai. According to the announced schedule, Jaishankar is expected to hold talks with Rubio in Mumbai on October 20. The Indian minister is also scheduled to host the United Arab Emirates (UAE) deputy prime minister and foreign minister during an official visit on October 19 and 20.
Rubio’s India and Uzbekistan tour is scheduled for October 17 to 22, according to the US Department of State. Before travelling to India, he is expected to visit Samarkand in Uzbekistan to attend the C5+1 ministerial meeting and hold bilateral discussions with senior Central Asian officials.
During his India visit, Rubio is expected to travel to Mumbai and Jamnagar in Gujarat for meetings with senior Indian government representatives. Discussions are likely to focus on the strategic partnership between the two countries, regional and international developments, and opportunities to expand energy cooperation.
The programme is also expected to include meetings with business leaders to promote investment and strengthen commercial ties. The US Department of State has said the visit aims to further deepen relations between Washington and New Delhi. Rubio is also scheduled to attend the Freedom 250 event at the US Embassy as a guest of honour. The upcoming trip will be Rubio’s second official visit to India in 2026. He previously visited New Delhi from May 23 to 26 for the Quad foreign ministers’ meeting hosted by Jaishankar.
Ahead of the latest tour, Gor described the visit as more focused on business, highlighting trade, energy, technology partnerships and investment opportunities.
Speaking at an event in Kolkata marking the 250th anniversary of American independence, the ambassador also highlighted cooperation between India and the United States in defence, information technology and healthcare.
He referred to joint military exercises, American defence platforms participating in activities in India, investments by companies from both countries and US imports of generic medicines from India.
Gor described India as an important partner of the United States and said Modi and US President Donald Trump had spoken the previous week, adding that further developments could follow.
The MEA’s clarification has sought to place Rubio’s planned Mumbai meeting within India’s established diplomatic practice, as the political debate continues over the announcement and communication of the engagement.