"Domestic headline management should not be priority": RJD's Manoj Jha on Trump-Modi talks

New Delhi [India], June 18 (ANI): Questioning whether Prime Minister Narendra Modi conveyed to US President Donald Trump that India never accepted and will never accept mediation on the issues with Pakistan, Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Manoj Jha said on Wednesday said that there is a need to have a unified voice of the country by calling for a special Parliament session instead prioritising "domestic headline management."
"I would trust my Prime Minister. But things have gone much further now. Donald Trump has made 14-15 statements. On one side, FS Misri released a video statement, and on the other side, I am watching the White House briefing. There is a lack of coordination between the two," Jha told ANI.
Reiterating the demand for calling a special session of Parliament to discuss Operation Sindoor and the hostilities by Pakistan, Jha urged that it is important to make sure that a unified voice is sent to the American President.
"That is why we say again and again that a special session of Parliament should be called. You may or may not be in power tomorrow, but one voice of the country should be communicated to the American President. He uses 'hyphenation' for India and Pakistan. We are not meant for that, historically and in contemporary times," he said.
Calling for the Centre to make clear India's position on Pakistan to the US, Jha added, "Our position has been non-negotiable over a lot of things. I think such an exercise is needed on a global level; just domestic headline management should not be our priority."
Meanwhile, Congress leader Rizwan Arshad also questioned India's foreign policy efforts, saying that despite the talks and India attending the G7 summit, Pakistan is still seen as an "exemplary partner" by the US.
"The PM has gone (to attend the G7 Summit). The issue is not about attending, but what are we getting for our country? When Pakistan is declared as an exemplary partner by the US, then what does that mean?" the Congress leader said.
Saying that the PM should have urged G7 countries to isolate Pakistan, he added, "When Pakistan, a terrorist nation, gets to become the Vice Chairperson in the UN Anti Terrorist Committee, what is the message we are giving? That means the PM and our foreign policy have failed. At the G7, the PM has to prevail upon the G7 countries to isolate Pakistan and treat it as a terrorist nation. Otherwise, there is no point in attending it."
Earlier, Foreign Affairs Secretary Vikram Misri said, "Prime Minister Modi made it clear to President Trump that during this entire episode, at no time, at any level, were issues such as India-US trade deal or mediation by the US between India and Pakistan discussed. The halt to military action was discussed directly between India and Pakistan, through existing channels of the two armies, and was at the request of Pakistan."
The remarks come after the US President had time and again claimed that he had used trade as a means for the cessation of hostilities between India and Pakistan, with India repeatedly denying the claims.
Misri informed that US President Trump understood the points made in detail by the Prime Minister and expressed support for India's fight against terrorism.
The telephonic conversation between the leaders was held on the sidelines of the G7 summit, which PM Modi attended on the invitation of Canadian PM Mark Carney. After he visited Canada, PM Modi emplaned for Croatia to start the last leg of his three-nation tour. (ANI)