Don't think Modi sought help from Donald Trump over Kashmir: Shashi Tharoor
New Delhi, July 23 (IBNS): Unlike his party which is adamant on asking for Narendra Modi's explanation, Congress Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor on Tuesday said he doesn't believe the Prime Minister sought help from the US to resolve the Kashmir crisis as claimed by American President Donald Trump.
"I had tweeted that the MEA must clarify and they did. I don't think Prime Minister Modi sought any help from Donald Trump. The US President has lack of knowledge may be which has resulted in such a statement," Tharoor said.
Trump claimed Modi sought help from the US in resolving the Kashmir issue with Pakistan.
Leaders of opposition parties like Congress, Trinamool Congress, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD), Left have demanded a clarification from the Prime Minister.
"The country has strictly adhered to the SHimla Accord and Lahore Declaration throughout. But when the head of the most powerful country has made such a statement, then it has serious consequences. So the Prime Minister must be present in the House to clarify," Congress Rajya Sabha MP Anand Sharma said.
What did Trump say?
Earlier reports said US President Donald Trump has offered to help resolve the Kashmir issue between India and Pakistan during his meeting with Pakistan President Imran Khan in Washington.
Hosting Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan at the White House on Monday, Trump said: “If I can help, I would love to be a mediator.” “If I can do anything to help, let me know,” he added, according to reports.
"I was with Prime Minister Modi two weeks ago and we talked about this subject and he actually said 'Would you like to be a mediator or arbitrator', I said 'Where', He said 'Kashmir'. Because this has been going on for many, many years... I think they would like to see it resolved and you (Imran Khan) would like to see it resolved. If I can help, I would love to be a mediator," President Trump said at the joint media briefing with Imran Khan.
The US has held for long that the Kashmir issue should be sorted by India and Pakistan bilaterally.
India rejects Trump's claim
In response to query on President Trump’s remarks, India's Ministry of External Affairs' official spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said, “We have seen President Trump's remarks to the press that he is ready to mediate, if requested by India and Pakistan, on the Kashmir issue. No such request has been made by Prime Minister to the 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 and the Lahore Declaration provide the basis to resolve all issues between India and Pakistan bilaterally,” Kumar said.
Addressing the Rajya Sabha, the lower house of the parliament, External Affairs Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar said on Tuesday, "It should be clear that Prime Minister Narendra Modi didn't seek help from Donald Trump over the Kashmir issue. We will discuss the issue with Pakistan only bilaterally. Talks can only take place if the cross-border terrorism ends."
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