PTI

New Delhi, November 24

India is upset at a reference to Prime Minister Narendra Modi by a US State Department official whereas defending the immunity it had prolonged to Saudi Arabian ruler Mohammad bin Sultan, who’s dealing with allegations of killing journalist Jamal Khashoggi.

“Frankly, I fail to understand how the comment on Prime Minister Modi was either relevant, necessary or contextual,” External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi mentioned responding to questions on a US official referring to Modi whereas explaining the explanations for granting immunity to the Saudi ruler.

“Our two countries enjoy a very special relationship which is growing from strength to strength and we look forward to working with the US to further deepen it,” he mentioned, referring to the bilateral ties between India and the US.

When requested about giving immunity to the Saudi Crown Prince over the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, US State Department principal deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel mentioned in a briefing final Friday that this isn’t the primary time that the US has completed this and it has been utilized to a variety of heads of state beforehand, together with PM Modi, in keeping with stories.

Bagchi additionally mentioned stories concerning the Prime Minister’s go to to the US in December had been incorrect.

“No proposal for a visit by the Prime Minister to the US in December has been made by our side. Media reports in this regard are incorrect,” Bagchi mentioned.

He additionally dismissed social media posts about “false comments” attributed to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and White House spokesperson with regard to the transient bilateral assembly between Modi and US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the current G-20 summit in Bali.

“We have seen some incorrect social media posts which attribute false statements to the External Affairs Minister, who has not made any comment on this to the press or on social media. It also attributes false statements to the White House press secretary. So, I would request you all not to lend credence to such incorrect information,” Bagchi mentioned.

He mentioned the prime minister met Biden on a variety of events in the midst of the Bali Summit, together with a short bilateral assembly and a trilateral assembly that concerned Indonesian President Joko Widodo.

“During these interactions, they exchanged views on a variety of points. Our press releases and tweets in addition to the international secretary’s briefing in Bali encapsulates all these conversations.

“The US side has also issued its readout of the trilateral meeting and also separately indicated that a brief bilateral meeting did take place between the two leaders,” Bagchi mentioned.

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