The News Minute: India: Sunday,
5 January 2025.
Following PM Modi’s visit, RTI activist Ajay Bose sought information on the cost of the diamond ring gifted to Jill Biden. But it was denied.
In July 2023, Right to Information (RTI) activist Ajay Basudev Bose sought information on the cost of the diamond ring that Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted Jill Biden, the wife of American President Joe Biden, during an official visit to the USA in June 2023. The Deputy Chief of Protocol’s office responded saying that the amount cannot be revealed as the disclosure of the information “may prejudicially affect India’s relations with the concerned foreign state” and sought the exemption under the RTI Act. However, the information that the Indian government tried to withhold is finally out, and the ring cost $20,000 or approximately 17 lakh rupees.
The information has come to light from the annual accounting published by the US state department on Thursday, January 2.
The 7.5-carat diamond from PM Modi was the most costly gift presented to any member of the US first family in 2023. Jill Biden also received a brooch valued at $14,063 from the Ukrainian ambassador to the US and a bracelet, brooch and photograph album worth $4,510 from the president and first lady of Egypt.
PM Modi visited the United States of America for four days in June 2023. At the meetings, the two countries agreed to terminate six outstanding disputes at the World Trade Organization, and announced deals with General Electric and Micron.
PM Modi’s speech at the US Congress was boycotted by a number of liberal Democrats including representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who said of Modi that state visits - the highest diplomatic protocol in the US - should not be offered to individuals with "deeply troubling human rights records".
Following PM Modi’s visit, RTI activist Ajay Bose sought information on the cost of the diamond ring gifted to Jill Biden. But it was denied.
In July 2023, Right to Information (RTI) activist Ajay Basudev Bose sought information on the cost of the diamond ring that Prime Minister Narendra Modi gifted Jill Biden, the wife of American President Joe Biden, during an official visit to the USA in June 2023. The Deputy Chief of Protocol’s office responded saying that the amount cannot be revealed as the disclosure of the information “may prejudicially affect India’s relations with the concerned foreign state” and sought the exemption under the RTI Act. However, the information that the Indian government tried to withhold is finally out, and the ring cost $20,000 or approximately 17 lakh rupees.
The information has come to light from the annual accounting published by the US state department on Thursday, January 2.
The 7.5-carat diamond from PM Modi was the most costly gift presented to any member of the US first family in 2023. Jill Biden also received a brooch valued at $14,063 from the Ukrainian ambassador to the US and a bracelet, brooch and photograph album worth $4,510 from the president and first lady of Egypt.
PM Modi visited the United States of America for four days in June 2023. At the meetings, the two countries agreed to terminate six outstanding disputes at the World Trade Organization, and announced deals with General Electric and Micron.
PM Modi’s speech at the US Congress was boycotted by a number of liberal Democrats including representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, who said of Modi that state visits - the highest diplomatic protocol in the US - should not be offered to individuals with "deeply troubling human rights records".