(Pooja Pal; Intern Journalist): The claims of US President Donald Trump have once again come under the scanner. Trump claimed on Thursday that he had spoken to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the ongoing India-China border dispute. According to reports quoting Home Ministry sources, PM Modi did not talk with the US President since April 4. There has been no discussion between PM Modi and President Trump on the Ladakh issue.
According to Home Ministry sources, recently there has been no official talk between PM Narendra Modi and US President Donald Trump. The last conversation between the two leaders was held on 4 April 2020. During this conversation, Trump and Modi discussed the hydroxychloroquine drug for the treatment of COVID-19. The US President then appealed to lift the ban imposed by India on hydroxychloroquine.
On Thursday, the Foreign Ministry also made it clear that the mechanism they have established is in direct contact with China through diplomatic contacts. The India-China dispute will be resolved through negotiations.
In fact, on Thursday, during a White House press conference, President Trump alleged, “Modi is not in a good mood on the Ladakh issue and he is not ready for any major conflict.” Trump said there is a big conflict going on between India and China over the border. Trump said that the Indians like him. He further alleged, “I think people of India like me more than the media there. I like Modi. I like your Prime Minister very much. Modi is a great gentleman.”
Significantly, in the first week of May 2020, Chinese troops have tried to sneak into the Indian border at least three places in the border areas adjacent to India. Five thousand of his soldiers are making temporary camps in the Indian border in an area of eastern Ladakh. Because of this challenge, India has started deploying more troops there. Indian Army Chief General Manoj Mukund Narwane had also gone to Ladakh to review the situation. India and China say that this border dispute will be resolved through negotiations. Meanwhile, India has also turned down the US arbitration proposal.
