Published 15:50 IST, July 23rd 2019
5 ways Modi government smacked down Donald Trump's Kashmir lie
On Monday, US President Donald Trump stirred a controversy by claiming that PM Narendra Modi had asked him to mediate between India and Pakistan in the Kashmir issue.
On Monday, US President Donald Trump stirred a controversy by claiming that PM Narendra Modi had asked him to mediate between India and Pakistan in the Kashmir issue. United States quickly got into damage control mode with several of its lawmakers calling and offering unconditional apology over the President's off-the-script remark and with the US State Department backing the Ministry of External Affairs by saying that Kashmir issue remains a bilateral one between India and Pakistan adding that talks are possible with the condition of concrete action on terror.
India left no stone unturned to make its position unequivocally clear that PM Narendra Modi did not request the US President to intervene in the Kashmir issue stating that it was bilateral one. Also, unlike the US government, where the States Department made a clarification which was contrary to Trump's statement, Indian government spoke in one voice on the matter.
The Ministry of External Affairs issues statement rebuffing President Trump
"We have seen the President of the United States remarks to the press that he is ready to mediate if requested by India & Pakistan, on Kashmir issue. No such request has been made by PM @narendramodi to US President. 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. The Shimla Agreement & the Lahore Declaration provide the basis to resolve all issues between India & Pakistan bilaterally"
Even though US administration themselves accepted the error in Trump's comment, with Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary Alice Wells saying that Kashmir is a bilateral issue between India and Pakistan, the Indian government continued to back up its position as it answered its own Opposition's questions on the matter. The Opposition, lead by Congress' Sonia Gandhi, unsatisfied by the statement issued by the MEA demanded a clarification from PM Modi himself.
Ministry of External Affairs categorically denies Trump's claims in Rajya Sabha
The Ministry of External Affairs made a statement in the Rajya Sabha, where he said that the MEA categorically ensure the House that no such request has been made by the Prime Minister to the US president. He also explained the position India has taken of having talks only if terrorism emanating from Pakistan was addressed by the nation.
"I would like to categorically ensure the House that no such request has been made by the Prime Minister to the US President. I reiterate no such request has been made to the US President. I would, Sir, also reiterate that it has been India's consistent position that all outstanding issue by Pakistan be discussed bilaterally. I would further underline that any engagement with Pakistan would require an end to cross border terrorism. Let me conclude by emphasising that Shimla agreement and Lahore declaration provide the basis for to resolve all issue between India and Pakistan bilaterally. I hope there won't be any confusion in anyone's mind."
Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar also addresses media slamming the Opposition for politicising the issue
"The way Congress and some Opposition parties have protested in the House just to demand Prime Minister to be present about the alleged asking US President to mediate, which America itself has denied, with our foreign ministers denying it and making it official. Still, to continue with sloganeering, just because they have little more numbers in Rajya Sabha compared to their Lok Sabha position. This kind of attitude is completely condemnable. When the nation should come together, Congress is putting politics about national interest," the BJP leader said.
MEA address a chaotic Lok Sabha twice on the issue
The External Affairs Minister in order to allay each and every member's concern reiterated the ministry's stand on the matter and made his statement twice that PM Narendra Modi made no request to President Donald Trump to mediate in the Kashmir issue. He explained India's consistent and longstanding 'no talks amid terror' policy and added that the basis of resolving India's issues with Pakistan were the Shimla agreement and Lahore declaration alone.
Home Minister Amit Shah ensures EAM is heard in the Lok Sabha
The Lok Sabha was chaotic with the Opposition saying that EAM's statement alone won't suffice and that PM Narendra Modi must clarify to the House. They sloganeered 'Pradhan Mantri Jawab Do' to the point that Union Minister S Jaishankar's speech was first interrupted and later completely drowned out. At this point, an angry Shah intervened requesting the Speaker Om Birla to allow the External Affairs Minister to repeat his statement.
Updated 16:38 IST, July 23rd 2019