Uproar in Parliament over Trump remarks

New Delhi: US President Donald Trump's claim on Kashmir mediation led to angry reactions from the Opposition in Parliament on Tuesday, as the government asserted that all outstanding issues between India and Pakistan can be discussed only bilaterally.

While the Rajya Sabha witnessed repeated adjournments over the issue, the Opposition walked out of the Lok Sabha proceedings demanding a statement from the Prime Minister himself.

Soon after the House met for the day at 11 am, Opposition parties raked up the issue of Trump's remarks made in the presence of Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan.

The US President had on Monday claimed that Prime Minister Narendra Modi had asked him to play the role of a mediator on Kashmir.

Congress Deputy leader in the Rajya Sabha Anand Sharma said Trump had stated that the Prime Minister had at the recent G20 meeting in Osaka in Japan sought his mediation.

India's position has been consistent and clear on Pakistan and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) and has always maintained that it will not accept third party mediation in purely bilateral issue.

Since Parliament is in session and considering that the comments were made by the President of the world's most powerful nation to the Prime Minister of another country, Prime Minister Modi should come to the House and clarify on the issue, he said.

CPI's D Raja wanted to know if there was any change in India's position on third party mediation on Kashmir issue.