Congress-BJP Spar Over President Trump's Visit

Senior Congress leader and Rajya Sabha member Anand Sharma observed that his party welcomes US President Donald Trump's visit, and described India's relationship with the US as a strategic one. However, he was critical of the Modi government organising the event through a private entity. Another Congress leader, Thiruvananthapuram MP Shashi Tharoor tweeted sarcastically to say that someone should inform President about the actual numbers when it comes to people lining up to greet him. Tharoor's post read, "Someone better tell @realDonaldTrump that the entire population of Ahmedabad—every man, woman and child, including those too old and sick to greet him— doesn't add up to 6 million. He's in for a great disappointment unless he repeats his creative crowd counting on Inaugural Day and adds a few zeros!"

Shashi Tharoor's response comes in the wake of the US President's statements that he was told that 6-8 million people would be there to welcome him.

Congress Lok Sabha MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury took a jibe at the Modi government saying that President Trump is coming to India without a trade deal. In a translated version of a popular Hindi saying he said PM Modi reckons that a one-eyed uncle is better than no uncle.

Congress also wondered why the government was spending Rs. 120 Crore on the Namaste Trump event when it was being organised by an NGO.

BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra remarked that The Congress party is in political ICU. He observed that Congress took objection to everything which PM Modi did. He added that when Donald and Trump and Narendra Modi meet, it is not just two individuals meeting, but the coming together of two important world leaders. He pointed out that certain events such as the visit of the US President should be above politics.

Meanwhile, reports came in that Ivanka and her husband Jared Kushner will also be accompanying her father, President Trump and the US First Lady, Melania Trump.