Showing no intention to let up, the opposition has mounted an aggressive attack on the government in parliament on Tuesday, following US President Donald Trump’s statement saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has sought his intervention in the Kashmir issue.
The opposition walked out of the Lok Sabha after demanding Prime Minister’s response on Trump’s remark.
Calling it a blow to the unity of India, Congress MP Manish Tewari questioned if such a conversation happened between Trump and Modi when they met in Osaka, Japan.
“We would like to demand that the PM comes to the House and clarify if such a conversation took place between the two. If it didn’t, he should say that the US President is giving false statements and is lying about Kashmir,” said Tewari in Lok Sabha.
The upper house of the parliament also saw uproar by the opposition members from Congress, Left, TMC, Samajwadi Party and others, who stormed into the well demanding Prime Minister’s explanation.
Rajya Sabha was rocked by the slogans of “Pradhanmantri jawab do, jawab do, jawab do,” made by the opposition leaders. Deputy Chairman Harivansh then adjourned the House until 2 PM.
Earlier in the day, UPA Chairperson Sonia Gandhi had said that the opposition would raise the issue in the parliament.
Donald Trump on Monday dropped a bombshell when he said that he has been asked by PM Modi to mediate in the Kashmir issue, much to the shock of India and US lawmakers alike.
The Centre “categorically assured” the Parliament that no request was made by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, as claimed by US President Donald Trump, to mediate in the Kashmir dispute between India and Pakistan.
“I would like to categorically assure the house that no such request has been made by the Prime Minister to the US President. I would also like to reiterate that it has been India’s consistent position that all outstanding issues with Pakistan are discussed only bilaterally,” External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said in the Rajya Sabha.
Speaking on the matter, Rajya Sabha Chairman Venkaiah Naidu said that it was “national issue” and also urged all the leaders to “speak in one voice” as the “unity, integrity and national interest of the country is involved”.