India slams Nato chief Mark Rutte's 'unacceptable' claim on Modi-Putin call: 'Entirely baseless'

MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal

India on Friday strongly rejected Nato Secretary-General Mark Rutte's claims that Prime Minister Narendra Modi questioned Russian President Vladimir Putin during a recent phone call, calling the statement "factually incorrect and entirely baseless".

In a weekly media briefing, the ministry of external affairs (MEA) spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said that leaders of major global bodies should exercise "greater responsibility and accuracy" in their public remarks.

"We have seen the statement by NATO Secretary-General Mr. Mark Rutte regarding a purported phone conversation between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Vladimir Putin. The statement is factually incorrect and entirely baseless. At no point has Prime Minister Modi spoken with President Putin in the manner suggested. No such conversation has taken place," the MEA said.

It added that such speculative or careless statements that misrepresent the Prime Minister's engagements or suggest conversations that never occurred are "unacceptable".

Earlier, in an interview to CNN on the sidelines of United Nations General Assembly, Rutte claimed that PM Modi asked Putin to explain his strategy on Russia.

Rutte, the former Dutch PM, said that US President Donald Trump’s tariffs on India over purchase of Russian oil are having a “big impact” on Moscow.

“Trump’s tariffs on India are having a big impact on Russia. Delhi is on the phone with Putin, and Narendra Modi is asking him to explain his strategy on Ukraine because India is being hit with tariffs,” Rutte said.

India and US are engaged in high-level discussions on trade with Union minister Piyush Goyal delegation the talks in Washington.

Trump has imposed steep 50% tariffs on India over trade frictions and its purchase of Russian oil. However, there has been a thaw in tensions recently with both Trump and Modi expressing confidence that a trade deal could be reached soon.