Cong again raises Kashmir mediation issue in LS; Rajnath answers

As the Congress demanded a reply from the PM over the Kashmir mediation issue, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said there was no discussion on Kashmir in the meeting between US President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Japan and there is no question of any mediation.

New Delhi:The Congress on Wednesday continued to demand a reply from Prime Minister Narendra Modi on US President Donald Trump's remarks on Kashmir mediation, with Lok Sabha witnessing ruckus for the second straight day.

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.

Amid a walkout by the opposition demanding a statement from Modi himself, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh replied, "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 the Kashmir issue."

Making a statement in Lok Sabha, Singh said mediation on the Kashmir issue is ruled out as it is a question of national pride for India.

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 was the problem now.

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.

On Tuesday also, the Opposition had sought a response from the prime minister on the issue.

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