The government on Monday clarified that discussions about arrangements for a leader's public appearance are a "normal practice" and part of the "stand policy for VVIP visits."
According to MEA sources cited by HT, it is standard practice to discuss arrangements for leaders’ public events ahead of any VVIP visit, and in this context the Indian side presented its customary procedures for such visits.
Delegations meeting the US President remain cautious due to his unpredictable behavior, as reflected in his interactions with the presidents of South Africa, Ukraine, and others. Consequently, India has also adopted a careful approach, the sources further noted.
The Ministry of External Affairs issued this clarification following claims by US Ambassador to India Sergio Gor at World Leaders Forum organised by Economic Times, that India had "specifically requested" that the media not be allowed to ask questions during a bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump.
Prime Minister Modi held a meeting with President Trump on the margins of the G7 Summit in France.
During the event, the two leaders held a joint press conference, where Gor mentioned that the Indian government had announced that no questions would be taken from the media.
“I told the president, I said, the Indians prefer no questions. He said, sure, no problem. So the meeting starts, the press comes in, there must have been 50 cameras, the president is sitting here, the prime minister is sitting there, they both speak for a few minutes. As soon as they get done, the first thing the president does, he looks up at the camera and says, any questions?” Gor claimed, adding that the remark “opened everything up”.
