India asked for no press questions at Modi-Trump meeting in June, says US envoy

India had asked the United States not to allow reporters to ask questions during Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s meeting with President Donald Trump on the sidelines of the G7 summit in France in June, US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor said on Saturday.

Speaking at the Economic Times World Leaders Forum, Gor said the Ministry of External Affairs had made the request shortly before the June 17 meeting between Trump and Modi in Evian-les-Bains.

According to Gor, Trump was told that India preferred “no questions” and agreed to the arrangement.

Gor said: “We were behind the scenes…And he [Trump] said, do they have any asks? And the MEA [Ministry of External Affairs] had one ask. He said, and it was, let's bring in the media, but let's not do a full press conference.”

“I told the president, I said, the Indians prefer no questions,” the US envoy added. “He said, sure, no problem.”

However, Gor said the meeting then began with journalists and around 50 cameras in the room. Modi and Trump made opening remarks, after which Trump turned towards the cameras and asked, “any questions?”

According to Gor, Trump’s invitation turned the meeting into a 45-minute press interaction, with Modi seated beside him as reporters directed their questions primarily to the US president.

“MEA had one...

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