US President Donald Trump addresses the media in New Delhi on Tuesday. (Photo Credit: Twitter/ANI)
New Delhi:
US President Donald Trump said he didn’t discuss the controversial Citizenship (Amendment) Act with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during their meeting in New Delhi on Tuesday, adding that Modi stands for the religion freedom. “PM Modi has worked very hard for religious freedom. I really believe he wants people to have religious freedom. As far as the Delhi protests, I didn’t discuss it with Modi, that’s up to India,” said Trump while addressing the media.
He also said that talked about his country's peace deal with the Taliban with Modi, and said that India will like to see it happen. Addressing a press conference, 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.
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However, when asked if he discussed the violent incidents here during his visit, he said that he didn't discuss individual attacks with PM Modi and "that is up to India".
He also said that India is buying a lot of military hardware from the US. To a question about reports of Russia trying to influence the US presidential poll, he said intelligence agencies never shared such information with him.
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 any thing 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 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.
