Sacrilegious betrayal: Congress demands Modi's response on Trump’s Kashmir mediation claim

Taking strong exception to US President Donald Trump’s claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had recently asked him to mediate on Kashmir, the Opposition Congress on Monday said that asking a foreign country to mediate in Kashmir was a “sacrilegious betrayal” of national interests.

“India has never accepted third party mediation in Jammu & Kashmir! To ask a foreign power to mediate in J&K by PM Modi is a sacrilegious betrayal of country’s interests. Let PM answer to the Nation!” Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said.

During a joint press conference with visiting Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan, US President Donald Trump said that PM Modi had asked him to mediate on Kashmir and he was willing to do it.

"I was with Prime Minister Modi, 2 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...They (India) would like to see it resolved, you (Imran Khan) would like to see it resolved. If could help, I would love to be a mediator," Trump said.

Following the remarks, a massive political storm erupted in the country seeking explanation from the Modi government. Former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah asked whether there has been an “undeclared shift” in India’s Kashmir policy.

“Is Govt of India going to call Donald Trump a liar or has there been an undeclared shift in India’s position on third party involvement in Kashmir?” he wrote on Twitter.

However, MEA spokesperson Raveesh Kumar rejected US President Donald Trump’s claim that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had requested him to help with the Kashmir issue.

“We have seen US President Donald Trump's remarks to the press that he is ready to mediate, if requested by India & Pakistan, on Kashmir issue. No such request has been made by PM Narendra Modi to US President. It has been India's consistent position that all outstanding issues with Pakistan are discussed only bilaterally. Any engagement with Pak would require an end to cross border terrorism. The Shimla Agreement&the Lahore Declaration provide the basis to resolve all issues between India&Pakistan bilaterally,” Kumar tweeted.