If Trump's claim that the Indian prime minister had asked him to mediate on the Kashmir issue is true, Modi had betrayed the interests of the country, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Twitter.
Opposition parties, led by the Congress, on Tuesday demanded a clarification from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on US President Donald Trump's stunning claim that the Indian leader had requested him to mediate in the Kashmir dispute.
The Ministry of External Affairs has rejected Trump's remarks, made during his meeting with Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, that Modi had asked him to mediate in resolving the Kashmir issue with Pakistan. But it was not enough for the Opposition, which walked out of the Lok Sabha over the demand for the prime minister's response. The Rajya Sabha also saw frequent disruptions on the issue.
If Trump's claim that the Indian prime minister had asked him to mediate on the Kashmir issue is true, Modi had betrayed the interests of the country, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said on Twitter.
Gandhi also asserted that a "weak" foreign ministry denial wouldn't do and the prime minister must tell the nation what transpired in the meeting between him and the US president His party welcomed the government's reiteration of India's 'no third party involvement' stand on the Kashmir issue but asked why Modi was "mum" over Trump's claim. T
Meanwhile, Tharoor’s statement was in sharp contrast to most of his colleagues including the erstwhile Congress president.
"Trump doesn't know what's he saying. Maybe he didn't understand the issue or nobody briefed him. Impossible that Modi will ask anyone else because it's our clear policy that we don't want a 3rd party mediation. If we have to talk to Pakistan, we'll do that directly," former Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor told ANI on Tuesday
RG Twitter and the Congress SM team pic.twitter.com/uED7tKD3GB
— K (@kamleshksingh) July 23, 2019
S Tharoor, ex-MoS MEA: Trump doesn't know what's he saying. Maybe he didn't understand the issue or nobody briefed him. Impossible that Modi will ask anyone else because it's our clear policy that we don't want a 3rd party mediation. If we've to talk to Pak,we'll do that directly pic.twitter.com/TEUSMG0PZP
— ANI (@ANI) July 23, 2019
Hello MP from Wayanad, this is not Manmohan Singh and you... https://t.co/fvOV6H3Inj
— Mohan Sinha (@Mohansinha) July 23, 2019
1. Trump said this casually in a press meeting. He has NOT given any official statement on this whereas India has denied it officially.
— THE SKIN DOCTOR (@theskindoctor13) July 23, 2019
2. On such issues, it's expected that people will keep differences aside and support India. Learn from @ShashiTharoor.
Here’s India’s stand.
— Amrita Bhinder (@amritabhinder) July 23, 2019
Do you want to take a stand different from India’s?
1/3https://t.co/WCvWReF6wQ
This is why you’re such a miserable failure, Rahul-ji. Your politics is shallow, childish point-scoring with no care for nation.
— Abhijit Majumder (@abhijitmajumder) July 23, 2019
MEA and @DrSJaishankar have categorically clarified, Capitol Hill seniors have too, even your colleague showed a lot more sensehttps://t.co/KYOlESO5Eq
A weak foreign ministry denial? What's our foreign ministry for?
— Shubhangi Sharma (@shubh19822) July 23, 2019
And why do we have such a brilliant diplomat as our EAM?
Why is every Indian institution weak for you ?
He tweets to unite https://t.co/Njn78GmTOm
— Vijay (@centerofright) July 23, 2019
Says a man whose father made a deal with the Reagan administration to release Bhopal massacre's culprit in exchange of his drug smuggler friend https://t.co/UqSPC4B6us
— Ravi Kant (@LegalKant) July 23, 2019
*Trump lies*
— Maithun (The Fauxy) (@Being_Humor) July 23, 2019
Rahul Gandhi to pidis pic.twitter.com/h5oiqsmhLX
My theory
— Opinion Bakery (@IndiaSpeaksPR) July 23, 2019
Learning from Balakot, some Cong leaders like Tharoor want to issue uncontroversial statements on national issues before Rahul can open his mouth and create a mess.
Shashi Tharoor has much more sense than Rahul Gandhi ever will. It’s a shame Rahul doesn’t even try really. https://t.co/CMLletI23Z
— Aditya Jain (@stonecoldnose) July 23, 2019
1. Uproar in Rajya Sabha
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Rajya Sabha witnessed repeated disruptions on Tuesday as Congress, CPI (M) and AAP members created uproar and demanded that Prime Minister Narendra Modi make a statement on the issue of US President Donald Trump's claim on Kashmir mediation.
As soon as the House resumed at 2 PM, Deputy Chairman Harivansh made an announcement about a cultural event in Parliament premises by physically challenged persons.
2. EAM categorically denies claim
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has not made any request to US President Donald Trump to mediate with Pakistan on Kashmir, adding that India's consistent position has been to discuss outstanding issues bilaterally.
Jaishankar made statements on the issue first in the Rajya Sabha and later in the Lok Sabha.
The opposition members forced an adjournment in the Rajya Sabha following the Minister's remarks and they staged a walkout in the Lok Sabha as well.
3. India's position is consistent
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"I would like to categorically assure the House that no such request has been made by Prime Minister Modi," Jaishankar said amid thumping of tables by treasury benches in the Rajya Sabha.
The minister said that engagement with Pakistan can resume after it puts an end to cross-border terrorism.
"It has been India's consistent position that all outstanding issues with Pakistan are discussed only bilaterally. Any engagement with Pakistan would require an end to cross-border terrorism," he said.
