The government on Monday responded to US ambassador Sergio Gor’s remarks about the external affairs ministry seeking a “no questions” media interaction between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump by saying this is the “standard practice” for foreign visits by the PM.
In this context, the people referred to Trump’s interactions with the Presidents of South Africa and Ukraine. He also related an anecdote about the Trump-Modi meeting on the sidelines of the G7 Summit two months ago. “We were behind the stage, and at one point, it was just the President and I. And he asked me, ‘What are the Indians going to raise? “MEA had one ask…and it was let’s bring in the media, let’s not do a full press conference, no questions. Modi and Trump then spoke for a few minutes.
When the meeting started, the media entered with some 50 cameras, Gor said.
Gor said, while participating in a media conclave on Sunday, that the external affairs ministry had asked that there be no “full press conference” when Modi and Trump met on the margins of the G7 Summit in France on June 17. People familiar with the matter said that discussions regarding arrangements for public appearances of leaders ahead of any VVIP visit are “normal practice”. “In this regard, the Indian side communicated its standard practice for such visits,” one of the people said. The people further said that foreign delegations meeting the US President are “wary about his unpredictable behaviour”. “Thus, the cautious approach by India,” the person cited above said. Gor referred to the “deep and personal friendship” between Trump and Modi which, he said, makes his job easier While speaking at the media conclave on Sunday. We went over some topics and he said do they have any asks,” Gor said. Gor said he told Trump the “Indians prefer no questions”. He added, “He [Trump] said, ‘Sure no problem’. “As soon as they get done, the first thing the President does, he looks up at the cameras and asks, ‘Any questions?’” he said
