New Delhi, July 24:There was no discussion on Kashmir in the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Japan recently and there is no question of any mediation on the issue, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Wednesday.
Making a statement in the Lok Sabha, Singh said mediation on the Kashmir issue is ruled out as it is a question of national pride for India.
“There was no discussion on Kashmir during the meeting between the Prime Minister and US President Trump in June.
“There is no question of any mediation on Kashmir issue,” he said, amid a walkout by the Opposition which has been demanding a statement from Modi himself.
Earlier, joined by members from some other Opposition parties, Congress members trooped into the Well soon after the Question Hour began and were engaged in sloganeering.
More than 30 members, mainly from the Congress, were in the Well shouting slogans, even as Speaker Om Birla went ahead with the Question Hour.
Congress leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said the Prime Minister is not talking on the issue.
On Monday, Trump claimed that Modi had asked him to play the role of a mediator on Kashmir but the government said the Prime Minister made no such request to Trump.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said that External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar has already clarified on the issue and wondered what the problem was now.
Later, Joshi was seen having a chat with Home Minister Amit Shah.
As the uproar continued, Joshi said that while no doubt about the issue is left since the External Affairs Minister has already given a statement, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh would respond during Zero Hour as the Opposition has again raised the matter.
However, protesting members were not convinced and continued with their sloganeering. They were heard shouting slogans like ‘Prime Minister jawab do jawab do’ (Prime Minister should answer).
On Tuesday also, the Opposition had sought response from the Prime Minister on the issue. PTI
