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A day after Foreign Minister S Jaishankar clarified the government's position in Parliament on US President Donald Trump's statement on Kashmir, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh told Lok Sabha on Wednesday that there was no question of accepting interference from anyone in Kashmir.
Singh was responding to opposition demands for Prime Minister Narendra Modi's response to Trump's statement on Monday, saying Modi had asked him to intervene on the Kashmir issue and "would like to help".
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"There is no question of accepting anyone's interference in Kashmir. It's a matter of national self-respect and we will never compromise on that, "said Singh.
"It is true that Prime Minister and Trump met in Osaka. But the Minister of External Affairs has made it clear that Kashmir has never been discussed at this meeting. He made a statement to that effect in the House. He was present at this meeting and he knows it, "said Singh.
He also warned Islamabad by saying: "If Pakistan wants to discuss the Kashmir issue with us, it must know that when we talk, we will not only talk about Kashmir, but also about Pak-held Jammu and Kashmir. . "
As soon as Singh rose to make a statement, the opposition left in protest. Singh commented, "They promised to hear us and now they are going out. They broke their promise. Democracy relies on credibility. "
Opposition leaders demanded answers from the prime minister at the start of the day and organized the walkout when they did not get satisfaction. During the hour zero hour, members of Congress stormed the well of the house and shouted slogans, "Prime Minister, come to Parliament". The party was supported by the DMK and several other opposition parties.
Congressman Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said, "Sir, today is Prime Minister's Day. We have tried to attract the attention of the Prime Minister to make a statement on the Trump-Modi issue. But it is deliberately denied because it is a problem that concerns the Prime Minister himself. The Prime Minister should therefore introduce himself and make a statement on the subject. "
"After the Trump declaration, the whole country wants to hear what the Prime Minister has to say, but he does not speak," he said.
At the end of Question Time, he added, "The prime ministers of two of the world's largest democracies met in Osaka. What did they talk about? … Trump says Prime Minister Modi has asked him to mediate in Kashmir. It could be wrong or right. But neither Trump speaks nor Modi. We want to learn from the horse's mouth. "
DMK's T Baalu supported Chowdhury. "Parliament has witnessed a strange situation today. He asks the Prime Minister to come to Parliament, but he does not come, "he said.
Following Trump's comments, Jaishankar made a statement on Tuesday at the Rajya Sabha. "I would like to categorically declare that no such request has been made by the Prime Minister to the US President," he said, adding that all the problems between the two countries were bilateral. He also said any engagement with Pakistan would require an end to cross-border terrorism.
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