MEA rejects US Prez’s Kashmir ‘mediation’ offer claim; Opp insists PM must clarify
US President Donald Trump’s claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had urged him to mediate with Pakistan on the Kashmir issue rocked Indian Parliament on Tuesday. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar reiterated in both the Houses that all issues with Pakistan can only be discussed bilaterally, but the Opposition demanded a reply from Modi. The Rajya Sabha saw repeated adjournments, while the Lok Sabha witnessed vociferous attack and walkout by the Opposition.
While hosting visiting Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan, Trump claimed that Modi had asked him to play a role of mediator on the Kashmir issue.
Refuting the US President’s statement, Jaishankar said in both the Houses that the Prime Minister made no such request about mediating. “I would like to categorically state that no such request has been made by the Prime Minister to the US President,” he said.
Making the country’s position clear, he said it has been the consistent position of India that all outstanding issues with Pakistan can be discussed only bilaterally. Any engagement with Pakistan will require end to cross-border terrorism, he said, adding Shimla and Lahore accords provide the basis for resolution of all issues bilaterally.
Jaishankar first gave this categorical denial in the Rajya Sabha soon after it met for the day after Congress leader Anand Sharma raised the issue. He said Trump stated Modi had, at the recent G20 meeting in Osaka in Japan, sought his mediation on Kashmir.
Sharma said India’s position has been consistent and clear on Pakistan and Pakistan-Occupied Kashmir (POK) and has always maintained that it will not accept third party mediation in a purely bilateral issue.
Since Parliament is in session and considering that the comments were made by the President of the world’s most powerful nation to the Prime Minister of another country, Modi should come to the House and clarify on the issue, Sharma demanded.
CPI leader D Raja wanted to know if there was any change in India’s position on third party mediation on the Kashmir issue, adding the denial issued by the External Affairs Minister on late Monday night was not enough.
Opposition parties were not satisfied by Jaishankar’s statement and insisted the Prime Minister should come to the House and clarify. This led to heated exchanges between Opposition benches and Chairman M Venkaiah Naidu, who adjourned proceedings for nearly an hour.
He said the issue was of national importance and concerned security when the Opposition members including Congress, AAP, TMC, SP and Left parties raised a din. Naidu quipped that the members were ready to believe a foreign leader instead of the Indian Minister and then adjourned the House till 12 pm at 11.15 am.
Similar scenes were witnessed in the Rajya Sabha when the House reassembled with the Opposition members coming into the Well and raising slogans demanding Modi’s clarification. Deputy Chairman Harivansh tried to pacify members but to no avail. Minister of Minority Affairs Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi said the demand for the Prime Minister’s presence was not justified as the statement by the External Affairs Ministry is the collective responsibility of the Cabinet. However, the Opposition continued to raise an uproar forcing the Chair to adjourn the proceedings till after lunch.
As soon as the Rajya Sabha resumed at 2 pm and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman moved the Appropriation Bill, 2019 and the Finance Bill, 2019, Anand Sharma requested the Deputy Chairman to consider notices given by him and other members of the Opposition seeking a reply of the Prime Minister in the House.
However, Harivansh did not accede to his plea and asked Ashok Bajpai (BJP) to initiate a discussion on Bills related to the Budget. Congress, CPI(M) and AAP members trooped into the well and started raising slogans demanding that the Prime Minister come to the House to reply on the issue.
Harivansh then adjourned the House till 3 pm.
Congress-led Opposition later staged a walkout when the House met again. Earlier, Bhupender Yadav (BJP) said the External Affairs Minister has already stated the Government’s view on the matter and the Lok Sabha was functioning.
Reacting to this, Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said the Government should not try to run Parliament as some “department” of a Ministry. He said it is the responsibility of the Upper House to discuss each and every aspect of a Bill in a thorough manner. He also alleged the Prime Minister never responds and no Minister in the Government has the guts to tell him that it is his duty to respond to queries of members in both the Houses.
In the Lok Sabha as soon as it met for the day, members from the Congress and some other Opposition parties were on their feet shouting slogans over the issue. Later, when the Zero Hour began, Manish Tewari (Cong) said since Trump’s statement is serious, the Prime Minister himself should clarify.
Saugata Roy (TMC) said it was in contravention to the position held by India. He also rejected any clarification by Jaishankar on the issue.
When Jaishankar rose to make a statement, it was drowned in protest by the entire Opposition. The Opposition then walked out of proceedings. Home Minister Amit Shah requested the Speaker to allow Jaishankar to repeat the statement as it was essential that people hear him clearly.
Amid the ruckus, Speaker Om Birla said it was a serious issue and there should not be any politics over the matter.