India's request at Modi-Trump meet 'normal practice': Report
What's the story
Discussions about arrangements for public appearances of leaders are a "normal practice," government sources clarified to ANI on Monday. This comes after United States Ambassador to India, Sergio Gor, said that India had asked the US not to take questions from the media during a meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Donald Trump at the G7 Summit in France in June.
Pre-meeting talks
Trump opened floor for questions despite agreeing not to
Gor recalled a "brief conversation" with Trump before the bilateral meeting.
He said, "We were behind the scenes, behind the stage, and at one point it was just the president and I, and he asked me, he goes, 'What the Indians are going to raise?' We went over some topics."
The ambassador added that he told Trump about India's preference for no questions from reporters.
Despite agreeing initially, Trump opened the floor to questions after their opening statements.
Maritime concerns
PM Modi raised concerns about safety of Indian seafarers
The meeting came after three Indian mariners were killed in a US Navy attack on a commercial vessel in the Strait of Hormuz.
PM Modi raised concerns about the safety of Indian seafarers during the meeting.
The visit was crucial as India and the US moved closer to finalizing a trade deal amid tensions that impacted maritime shipping and global energy supplies.
Official confirmation
'Discussions on public appearances are normal practice'
Government sources confirmed that discussions on public appearances are part of a "normal practice" ahead of any VVIP visit.
They said, "In this regard, the Indian side communicated its standard practice for such visits."
The clarification comes after Gor's remarks at the Economic Times World Leaders Forum where he spoke about India's request to avoid media questions during the meeting between PM Modi and President Trump.