MEA rejects Navarro’s criticism; says no comment on Trump jab

India on Friday declined to respond to US President Donald Trump's remarks that New Delhi appeared to have moved closer to Moscow and Beijing, even as it rejected White House trade advisor Peter Navarro’s tirade against the country over Russian oil purchases as “inaccurate and misleading”.

- Rezaul H Laskar

Against the backdrop of growing strains in India-US relations over the US president's decision to double tariffs on Indian goods with a 25% punitive levy over the procurement of Russian energy, Trump again targeted India in the wake of Prime Minister Narendra Modis participation in the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit, where he was seen with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. “Looks like we've lost India and Russia to deepest, darkest China. May they have a long and prosperous future together!” Trump said ina social media post that attached a photo of Xi, Putin and Modi walking together at the venue of the SCO Summit in Tianjin.

When external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal was asked about Trump's remarks ata regular weekly media briefing, he replied: “I have no comments to offer on this post at this moment.” Jaiswal responded to another question about Navarro’s remarks criticising India over Russian oil purchases by saying: “We have seen the inaccurate and misleading statements made by Mr Navarro and obviously reject them.”