New Delhi, July 23: External affairs minister (EAM) S Jaishankar on Tuesday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi had made no invitation to the United States President Donald Trump to act as a third-party mediator on Kashmir issue between India and Pakistan, in the midst of massive controversy over America’s claim.
According to News18 reports, Jaishankar stated all the outstanding issues between Pakistan and India can be thoroughly discussed only through bilateral means.
Addressing Rajya Sabha on Tuesday, the EAM said, “I would like to categorically state that no such request has been made by the Prime Minister to the US President,” after the opposition political parties, including Congress, raised the matter in the legislature.
Union Minister Prakash Javadekar deemed the uproar generated by the opposition members of parliament, who are seeking a response from Modi as ‘irresponsible’.
“The way the Opposition has protested and created chaos, demanding for PM’s clarifcation on Trump’s statements are irresponsible. Even US govt is denying their President’s claim,” he said.
After opposition MP’s begin shouting slogans of ‘Pradhanmantri jawab do,jawab do,jawab do” and generate great chaos in the House, Rajya Sabha was adjourned till 2 pm.
Rajya Sabha has been adjourned till 12 PM following an uproar by the Opposition over the statement of US President Donald Trump that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked him to mediate in Kashmir issue. pic.twitter.com/Zmb9bLwEpZ
— ANI (@ANI) July 23, 2019
Senior Congress leader Ghulam Nabi Azaad dismissed Donald Trump’s claims in a media conference and further reiterated New Delhi’s bilateral stand over the Kashmir issue.
“No matter which govt was in power at Centre in past,our foreign policy has been that Kashmir is bilateral issue and no 3rd party can intervene,” he said.
“There is no doubt about that and nobody is questioning Prime Minister Narendra Modi. I personally don’t think Trump would tell Pakistan’s Imran Khan that Modi has asked US to mediate,” he added.
While India lodged a strong protest with the US department of state over Trump’s controversial claims on Kashmir issue, Hurriyat Conference Chairman Mirwaiz Umar Farooq stated the US president’s intervention is “welcomed by the people of Jammu and Kashmir”.
Being the most affected party people of #Kashmir want an early resolution to the lingering Kashmir conflict. Been urging for dialogue at all levels.Every effort, pushing India and Pakistan in that direction @POTUS is welcome by the people of J&K.
— Mirwaiz Umar Farooq (@MirwaizKashmir) July 23, 2019
Also read: India debunks US President Trump’ claim on Kashmir issue