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This story is from July 24, 2019

Jaishankar tells Parl: PM did not seek Trump's intervention on Kashmir issue

Jaishankar tells Parl: PM did not seek Trump's intervention on Kashmir issue
NEW DELHI: External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Tuesday denied US President Donald Trump's claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi sought his role as a mediator on Kashmir even as the opposition raised the issue vociferously and demanded that the PM personally clarify the matter.
Both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha witnessed walkouts by an agitated opposition with parties indicating that they will raise the issue again on Wednesday along with other grouses such as the government "pushing through" legislation without providing adequate time for discussion and debate.

Responding to Trump's statement, Jaishankar said, "I would like to categorically state that no such request has been made by the prime minister to the US president." He said outstanding issues between India and Pakistan were to be dealt with bilaterally under the Shimla and Lahore accords. He added that any engagement with Pakistan would require an end to cross-border terrorism.
However, the opposition insisted that only Modi could speak on the issue which referred to a private conversation between him and Trump. Deputy leader of opposition in Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma said the country was shocked to hear about the request for mediation. He said there were all-party resolutions of Parliament that all issues between India and Pakistan would be settled bilaterally.
"We have rights as members. There are certain traditions and dignity of the House. Whenever the prime minister goes out and whenever there is an international issue, the PM must reply," Sharma said.
Congress leader Shashi Tharoor struck a different note, saying the government had clarified the matter. "I don't think Trump knows what he is saying. It is not possible that Modi could have asked something like this as our policy has been established for years that we do not want any third party mediation," he told a TV channel.

In Lok Sabha, Congress's Manish Tewari said Trump's claim was an assault on India's sovereignty. Reading out from the transcript of the US leader's remarks made in the presence of Pakistani PM Imran Khan, he quoted Trump as saying, "Such a beautiful name. It is supposed to be such a beautiful part of the world. But right now, there are bombs all over the place. They say, everywhere you go, you have bombs and it is a terrible situation."
Tewari said since Trump had cited a conversation with Modi in Osaka in Japan, the PM should tell the House if the statement was true or should say that Trump was lying. Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said the government had "bowed its head" before the US which was a matter of shame.
Trinamool's Saugata Roy said Trump's claim was in contravention of the position held by India against third-party intervention. His remark that Jaishankar should not speak on the issue triggered a clash, resulting in din. DMK leader T R Baalu repeated that the PM should speak on the issue.
In Rajya Sabha, CPI member D Raja asked if there had been any change in India's long-maintained position against third-party mediation on Kashmir.
A united opposition continued to protest in Rajya Sabha after the House resumed with finance and appropriation bills taken up for discussion. Congress, CPM and AAP members trooped into the well, demanding that the PM come to the House. After another adjournment, the MPs staged a walkout.
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