MEA slams US congresswoman Pramila Jayapal’s remarks on India’s elections as ‘uninformed’ ahead of Rubio visit

New Delhi: India on Friday dismissed remarks by the United States democratic congresswoman from Washington state, Pramila Jayapal, on its electoral practices as “unwarranted and uninformed”, days before hosting the US secretary of state, Marco Rubio, for talks on October 20. The Ministry of External affairs also expressed concern over an alleged plot to carry out a mass shooting at a Hindu temple in Aurora, Illinois, citing rising hate crimes against the Indian community in the US.

Speaking at the biweekly media briefing, the MEA spokesman, Randhir Jaiswal, said India urged Washington to ensure the safety and security of its citizens. The remarks came as New Delhi lined up a busy diplomatic week.

Jayapal had said on Wednesday that she was deeply concerned by reports of 13 crore names being removed from India’s draft electoral rolls, in what was reported as the first such comment by a US lawmaker on the issue. She also voiced support for non-violent protests in India and said the developments echoed what she described as an effort by the Trump administration to undermine voting rights in the US.

The Election Commission of India has put the deletions at about 7.2 crore names in the first two phases of the special intensive revision (SIR) of the rolls and 6.16 crore in the ongoing third phase. The commission has said a genuine voter left out by mistake can seek inclusion through the claims and objections process and then through Form 6.

On October 19 and 20, the external affairs minister, S Jaishankar, will host the UAE’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister in Mumbai. The visit will review bilateral ties under the Comprehensive Strategic Partnership, with talks focused on energy, defence and connectivity. The two sides will also hold a detailed exchange of views on the situation in West Asia.

Asked why the engagements were being held in Mumbai, the MEA said India has followed the practice for decades of hosting foreign delegations in cities outside New Delhi. It cited examples including the prime minister, Narendra Modi, hosting the Spanish prime minister in Vadodara, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Ahmedabad and the Mauritian prime minister in Varanasi. Jaishanakr also hosted the SCO foreign ministers’ meeting in Goa and the Heart of Asia conference in Amritsar, highlighting India’s practice of holding diplomatic engagements across different cities.

On October 20, Jaishankar will hold talks with Rubio and attend the US Independence Day celebration as guest of honour. The visit will be an opportunity to review India-US relations and discuss ways to further strengthen the partnership.

Discussions will cover energy, defence, critical minerals and other areas of cooperation. Both sides will also discuss regional and global developments, high-level engagement and shared priorities.

On Canada, Jaiswal said its foreign minister met Jaishankar in India a few days ago for bilateral talks. Dates for the prime minister’s visit to Canada are still under discussion.

India also said it will carry out the first tranche of a ₹3,000 crore currency swap arrangement with the Maldives at the island nation’s request, effective October 23, 2026. The arrangement falls under the agreement signed on October 4, 2026.