Opposition demands PM Modi's clarification over Donald Trump's claim of Kashmir help

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.

Congress, the main opposition party in the country, has demanded a clarification from Prime Minister Modi in the parliament over the issue. "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.

However, Congress Lok Sabha MP Shashi Tharoor said he believes Modi in the entire controversy. "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."

Trinamool Lok Sabha MP Sougata Roy said, "Since the matter is having an international significance so we demand the Prime Minister's clarification. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar's statement won't do. PM Modi will have to tell whether Trump lied or not."

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.