New Delhi, Feb 25
US President Donald Trump said on Tuesday that issues involving the Citizenship (Amendment) Act are up to India and asserted that Prime Minister Narendra Modi wants people to have religious freedom.
Trump, who held comprehensive talks with Modi on the second and the last day of his visit, said these were great and fantastic two days.
“I'm gonna be not at all controversial because…I don't want to blow the two days plus two days of travel on one answer, one little answer, like John will ask me one simple question and you will blow it out and that will be the end of the trip. You won't even talk about the trip. So I will be very conservative in my answers if you don't mind,” Trump said at a press conference.
Describing the Kashmir issue as a “big problem” between India and Pakistan, he said it is “a thorn in a lot of people's sides” and reiterated his offer to mediate between the two countries to ease the tension.
“If anything I can do to mediate, I will do,” he said, adding that Pakistan figured in his talks with Modi.
“I have good equation with Pakistan PM Imran Khan. They are working to control cross-border terrorism,” he said.
He said he discussed the issue of religious freedom at length with Modi during his comprehensive talks and that the Indian leader wants people to have this freedom.
“We discussed it. Prime Minister Modi said they work very closely with Muslims,” Trump replied when asked if raised the allegations of discrimination against Muslims in India.
Trump described Modi as a “terrific” leader and India as a “tremendous country”.
“We did talk about religious freedom. Prime Minister Modi wants people to have religious freedom in India…If you look back India has worked hard for religious freedom,” Trump said.
To a question about India's new citizenship law, he said, “I don't want to say anything on CAA. It is up to India. I hope it will take the right decision for its people.”
Asked if he discussed the incidents of violence taking place during his visit here, he said that he didn't discuss individual attacks and “that is up to India”.
He also said that India is buying a lot of military hardware from the US.
On the issue of trade, he said India is probably the nation with highest tariffs and noted that the Harley Davidson has to pay “huge amount of tariff”.
The US has to be treated fairly, he added.
He also talked about his country's peace deal with the Taliban with Modi, and said that India will like to see it happen.
To a question about reports of Russia trying to influence the US presidential poll, he said intelligence agencies never shared such information with him.
- India, US finalises $3 Bn defence deals
New Delhi, Feb 25
India and the US on Tuesday finalised defence deals worth USD 3 billion, and signed three MoUs, including one in energy sector, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi asserted that the two countries have decided to take Indo-US ties to comprehensive global partnership level.
The unprecedented and historic welcome given to Trump in India will be remembered, said Modi at a joint press meet with Trump and added that the relations between the two countries are not merely confined to governments but are people-driven.
Trump announced that the two countries have finalised defence deals worth USD 3 billion and asserted that their focus was on having a comprehensive trade deal.
The relations between the two countries have never been as good as they are now, Trump said, adding that the countries have made “wonderful deal”.
In his brief remarks at the start of official talks, Modi said “Defence cooperation between two countries is reflective of rising strategic partnership between India and US. We also agreed on new mechanism to contain drug trafficking” the Prime Minister said.
Modi welcomed the US president and thanked him for taking time out for the visit to India.
President Trump, in turn, said the last two days in India were amazing, especially the event at the Motera stadium in Ahmedabad.
“It was a great honour for me. I would imagine they (the people) were there maybe more for you than for me… 125,000 people were inside. Every time I mentioned your name, there were cheers. People love you,” Trump told Modi in front of the media.
Earlier, Trump was accorded a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. President Ram Nath Kovind and Prime Minister Modi welcomed Trump and First Lady Melania Trump at Rashtrapati Bhavan. The US president also received a tri-services guard of honour at the presidential palace.
The Trumps, who also paid homage to Mahatma Gandhi at his memorial Rajghat here, arrived in Ahmedabad around noon on Monday for the first leg of their 36-hour India visit
Visit has been unforgettable, extraordinary and productive, Trump added.
