Prime Minister Narendra Modi met with the United States Director of National Intelligence (DNI), Tulsi Gabbard, in New Delhi on Monday evening and presented her with a vase containing jal (holy water) from the recently concluded Mahakumbh in Prayagraj.
Gabbard, currently on a multi-nation tour, is in India for the Asia leg of her visit. Her trip will conclude on March 18 with an address at the Raisina Dialogue, a prominent multinational security conference in Delhi, to which PM Modi had invited her.
Earlier in the day, Gabbard held discussions with Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, during which Singh raised concerns over anti-India activities conducted by the banned Khalistani organisation Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) in the United States. According to sources, India urged the US to take strong action against the unlawful group, which has been designated as an illegal association by the Indian government.
In addition to this, Gabbard and Singh deliberated on key areas of defence cooperation and intelligence sharing between India and the US, reinforcing the strategic partnership between the two nations.
Gabbard’s visit follows PM Modi’s trip to the US in February this year. During their meeting, PM Modi referred to Gabbard as a “strong votary” of India-US friendship, while Gabbard described the interaction as an “honour” and reiterated her commitment to strengthening bilateral ties.
As part of her engagements in India, Gabbard is also set to participate in a keynote conversation with Samir Saran, President of the Observer Research Foundation (ORF). The 10th edition of the Raisina Dialogue is being co-hosted by the Ministry of External Affairs in partnership with ORF.
(Inputs from ANI)