"There was no breach of protocol. I had a valid visa and I visited a university in the US purely for academic purpose only from the point of view of knowing about their educational facilities," he said.
"I did not do any business, no agreements were signed, no contracts were sealed. I went there as I was interested in observing their classrooms, laboratories and learning about their syllabus as I am associated with several educational institutes," Shekhawat told PTI.
Even the ministry of external affairs has made it clear that there was no breach of protocol as was made out by a section of media, he said.
Asked if he could have undertaken the US trip separately and not as part of the Presidential visit, Shekhawat said: "I could have gone separately but I had spare time...My presence was not required at the official meetings and moreover, it was just a two-hour flight. I went to the US at my own expense."
More From This Section
On reports that he was missing from a presidential banquet hosted by Mexico's head of state, Shekhawat said "There appears to be some confusion. I didn't mean to insult anybody.
"In my spare time in Mexico, I could have gone shopping but I chose to visit the nearby US educational facility which has given rise to such reports," he said.