India opts for silence on Trump, for now

DISQUIET IN DELHI OVER US PREZ'S REMARK ON PM

- SHUBHAJIT ROY

US PRESIDENT DONALD Trump's latest remark claiming "Prime Minister Modi came to see me, 'Sir, may I see you please. Yes" has led to a sense of disquiet in Delhi which has chosen not to issue an official response, at least for the time being.

While this is not the first time that Trump has made comments targeting India, Delhi has been restrained in its response. On Tuesday, Trump said Modi is "not that happy with me" because of the tariffs Washington imposed on Delhi over its purchase of Russian oil — the 25% penalty took the tariffs on India to 50%.

Trump also said India told him it has been waiting five years for the Apache helicopters. "We are changing it... India ordered 68 Apaches," he said. In Delhi, government sources contradicted the claim, saying India has only bought 28 Apache helicopters from the US — 22 for the IAF, 6 for the Indian Army. And that all these helicopters had been delivered.