External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday criticised Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and dismissed his claims that the Indian government sent him to the US to secure an invitation for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to attend Donald Trump's swearing-in ceremony.

In his strong rebuttal to Gandhi's claims, Jaishankar said the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha deliberately spoke a 'falsehood' about his visits to the USA in December last year.

"Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi deliberately spoke a falsehood about my visit to the US in December 2024," Jaishankar posted on X.

"I went to meet the Secretary of State and NSA of the Biden Administration. Also to chair a gathering of our Consuls General. During my stay, the incoming NSA-designate met with me," he said.

He said the issue of inviting PM Modi to USA to attend Donald Trump's inauguration was not discussed

"At no stage was an invitation in respect of the PM discussed. It is common knowledge that our PM does not attend such events. In fact, India is generally represented by Special Envoys," Gandhi said.

"Rahul Gandhi’s lies may be intended politically. But they damage the nation abroad," Jaishankar said slamming the MP.

The Lok Sabha witnessed a war of words between the Treasury benches and the Opposition after senior Congress leader and MP Rahul Gandhi targeted the government and claimed that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar was sent to the inauguration of Donald Trump as US President to ensure a US invite for Prime Minister Narendra Modi.

BJP MPs, led by Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, strongly objected to his remark and said he could not make such unsubstantiated statements.

Speaking in the Lok Sabha during the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address, Gandhi said: "When we talk to the United States, we would not send our foreign minister to invite our Prime Minister to his coronation."

"If we had a production system and if we were working on technologies, the American President would come here and invite the Prime Minister," he said.

Replying to his comments, Rijiju was quoted as saying in the Parliament: "He is making unverified statements about the invitation of our Prime Minister. He should be responsible."

Donald Trump's inauguration occurred on January 20.