New Delhi, Aug 30 (UNI) The situation in Bangladesh and the need for ensuring the safety and security of minorities there, especially Hindus, was “discussed substantially” during the Aug 26 phone conversation between PM Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden, even though the US readout skipped mentioning this aspect, a top official said today.
Clearing the air in the wake of comments on social media by politicians and netizens wondering why the White House readout of the phone conversation between the two leaders skipped any mention of the Bangladesh aspect, Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that the Indian readout “is an accurate and faithful record of what transpired in the conversation”.
Trashing speculations that doubted India’s version of the phone talk, as well as what PM Modi had posted on X, mentioning Bangladesh very clearly, the MEA spokesperson said in his media briefing today:
“These claims are uninformed, tendentious, and motivated and betray a total lack of familiarity with the process of how such contacts between leaders are organized and then followed up on. Firstly, press releases issued after such conversations between leaders are not like Joint Statements where every word is negotiated and mutually agreed upon.
“Secondly, such press releases are not meant to be comprehensive readouts of such conversations. Finally, it is not unusual for two sides to emphasize different aspects of the same conversation in their respective readouts.
“The absence of an aspect in one press release or the other is not evidence of its absence in the conversation itself.
“I am very much aware of the contents of the conversation between the Prime Minister and the President and I can tell you that our press release is an accurate and faithful record of what transpired in the conversation.
“The subject of Bangladesh, which has been highlighted by certain quarters, was very much discussed substantially by both the leaders,” he said.
On August 26 evening, PM Modi posted on X
“Spoke to @POTUS @JoeBiden on phone today. We had a detailed exchange of views on various regional and global issues, including the situation in Ukraine. I reiterated India’s full support for early return of peace and stability.
“We also discussed the situation in Bangladesh and stressed on the need for early restoration of normalcy, and ensuring the safety and security of minorities, especially Hindus, in Bangladesh.”
The Indian readout also mentioned this aspect: “The two leaders expressed their shared concern over the situation in Bangladesh. They emphasised restoration of law and order and ensuring safety and security of the minorities, particularly Hindus, in Bangladesh.”
However, the US readout did not mention the Bangladesh aspect at all, leading to much speculation, including in the neighbouring country.
