Washington: A State Department report has revealed a series of high-value gifts from Indian leaders to top US officials, including a $7,750 sterling silver train set presented to then-President Joe Biden by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, which was later transferred to the National Archives.
The report, issued by the State Department’s Office of the Chief of Protocol, covers gifts reported for the calendar year 2024 and notes that the “minimal value” for reporting is $480.
For the White House, several items from PM Modi to President Biden are listed. One entry records Biden receiving a “Wood Chest, Scarf, Saffron with Jar, Wood Box for Tea” on September 10, 2023, valued at $562. All items except perishable ones were transferred to the National Archives (NARA). Another entry shows Biden received a “Sterling Silver Metal Train Set” on July 16, 2024, valued at $7,750.
The report also lists gifts to First Lady Jill Biden, who received a “Pashmina Shawl” on October 21, 2024, valued at $2,969, which was transferred to NARA.
India’s National Security Adviser Ajit Doval is recorded as the donor of a “Kashmir Pashmina Scarf with Box,” presented to President Biden’s national security adviser Jake Sullivan on August 23, 2024, valued at $599. The item was transferred to the General Services Administration (GSA).
Vice President Kamala Harris received a “Lord Krishna Raas Leela Silver Box” from PM Modi on October 18, 2024, valued at $1,330, which was transferred to NARA. Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff received “Cufflinks” from Modi on the same date, valued at $585.65, also transferred to NARA.
The report includes an India-linked gift under the Department of Defense. Then-Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin received a “Shiva Nataraja Bronze Statue” from India’s Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on November 24, 2022, valued at $3,700. Its disposition is listed as “Pending Transfer to GSA.”
The report notes that agencies are responsible for the information they submit: “All information reported to the Office of the Chief of Protocol, including gift appraisal and donor information, is the responsibility of the employing agency.”
It covers “tangible gifts and gifts of travel or travel expenses,” including only gifts above the “minimal value.” Some older gifts are included because the information arrived late.
Published in the Federal Register on Thursday, the report provides a standard reason for acceptance of White House gifts: “Non-acceptance would cause embarrassment to donor and US Government.”
With IANS inputs