Sacred Gift: PM Modi Presents Tulsi Gabbard With a Vase of Gangajal From Mahakumbh | WATCH

New Delhi: US Director of National Intelligence (DNI) Tulsi Gabbard met Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday in a significant diplomatic exchange. As a gesture of goodwill, PM Modi presented her with a vase filled with sacred Gangajal from the recently concluded Prayagraj Mahakumbh. In return, Gabbard gifted the Prime Minister a Tulsi mala, saying, "This is a gift from me and my new position as Director. This is Tulsi Mala." 

The exchange of sacred gifts symbolises India’s rich cultural and spiritual heritage while further strengthening bilateral ties. Watch the special moment unfold in the video below.

This marks Gabbard's second meeting with Prime Minister Modi in two months. The two previously met in February when PM Modi visited Washington, D.C., for a bilateral meeting with President Donald Trump. During their meeting, PM Modi and Gabbard explored strategies to strengthen collaboration in addressing challenges such as terrorism and cybersecurity, aiming to shape the vision for a more robust India-US partnership.

PM Modi and Gabbard’s meeting took place hours after Gabbard met Defence Minister Rajnath Singh . The discussion, held in the national capital, centred on the anti-India activities carried out on American soil by the banned Khalistani group Sikhs for Justice (SFJ). Sikhs for Justice (SFJ) has been declared an unlawful association by India. 

According to sources, India raised concerns over the group's activities and urged Gabbard to take strict action against the banned organization.

Sharing details of their discussion on X (formerly Twitter), Singh stated, "Happy to have met the US Director of National Intelligence Ms Tulsi Gabbard in New Delhi. We discussed a wide range of issues which include defence and information sharing, aiming to further deepen the India-US partnership."

Gabbard is visiting India as part of her multi-nation tour. The Asia leg of her trip will conclude on March 18 with an address at the Raisina Dialogue, a global security conference in Delhi, to which Prime Minister Narendra Modi invited her.

Earlier on Saturday, National Security Advisor Ajit Doval also met with Gabbard. According to sources, they held in-depth discussions on multiple dimensions of the India-US relationship.