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
File photo of Prime Minister Narendra Modi with US President Donald Trump in Japan. Pic/PTI
Rahul Gandhi
They also sought an explanation from the PM in both the Houses on Trump's statement. Flanked by Opposition leaders, including CPI's D Raja, NCP's Majeed Menon, DMK's Tiruchi Siva, SP's Ramgopal Yadav and AAP's Sanjay Singh, Azad told reporters outside Parliament that his party was ready to believe the prime minister's side of the story but he needed to clarify the issue on the floor of the House. Trump, he added, was unlikely to make these remarks in jest. "No matter which government was in power at Centre in past, our foreign policy has been that Kashmir is a bilateral issue and no third party can intervene and President Trump knows it... I don't think President Trump would tell Pakistan's PM that India's PM has asked the US to mediate," Azad said. "The US president is expected to know the complexity of the Kashmir issue, and also India's long-standing position that the dispute must be resolved bilaterally," he added.
The Trinamool Congress' Derek O'Brien also demanded a clarification from the prime minister "Along with all opposition parties, we, Trinamool, have a simple demand. The PM of India has to come to Parliament, make a statement and clear the air," O'Brien said. Trump claims that Modi asked him to mediate on the Kashmir issue when they met in Osaka, Japan, on the sidelines of the G-20 Summit last month. "If I can help, I would love to be a mediator. If I can do anything to help, let me know," Trump said in response to a question, adding he is ready to help, if the two countries ask for it. "I was with Prime Minister Modi two weeks ago and we talked about this subject (Kashmir). And he actually said, 'would you like to be a mediator or arbitrator?' I said, 'where?' (Modi said) 'Kashmir'," Trump said.
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