The Indian Prime Minister appears to be ‘constantly’ telling the US President that India has built a library in Afghanistan, if the US President is to be believed
During a cabinet meeting in the White House, US President Donald Trump mocked Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi for ‘constantly’ telling him that India had built a library in Afghanistan. President Trump admitted that he got along with the Indian Prime Minister, who he had praised earlier as an ‘excellent man’. But he could not hide his irritation while recalling that the Indian PM’s ‘constant’ harping on the library did not quite impress him.Who used a library in Afghanistan, asked Trump while venting his frustration over allies either not fighting America’s war in Afghanistan or doing little to share the burden. India’s effort at building a library, he grimaced before pointing out, was like ‘five hours’ of what the US spent on its war in Afghanistan.
This is not the first time Trump has mocked at the Indian PM. He had earlier revealed that Narendra Modi had called him up to inform that India had reduced import duty on motorcycles. “Big deal”, the US President had then exclaimed.
While the US President is known to mock several world leaders and the media, what is worrying is the Indian Prime Minister apparently calling up the US President to share such information. Surely, they have a lot of more substantial things to discuss? And isn’t the US Embassy there to keep Washington DC informed?
Modi’s bearhug of the US President had embarrassed many Indians and apparently took even Trump by surprise. But despite the bearhug, the White House last year reportedly rebuffed India’s proposal that he meet up with Modi at the Presidential retreat of Camp David for leisurely talks.
Some of the reactions on Twitter have been scathing.
Not the first time Trump has mocked PM Modi/India. Earlier made comments over Harley Davidson (mocking Indian accent) , Trade, Climate Change "freeloading", Afghanistan "must pay their share" etc. GoI has not responded once. Maybe it should. https://t.co/nZ6NpYzeql
— Suhasini Haidar (@suhasinih) January 3, 2019
https://twitter.com/anniegowen/status/1080702803524362240
Trump mocked Modi, I think, for reminding Trump that India built "a library" in Afghanistan: "We're supposed to say thank you for the library. I don't know who's using it, in Afghanistan…"
— Daniel Dale (@ddale8) January 2, 2019
No US President or any other world leader in the past could gather guts to ridicule India & her PM as Trump has. This is what happens when India's image is weakened due to a weak & self-centered leaders like Modi. Outrageous! 😡
Obama referred to Dr Manmohan Singh as 'Guru'. pic.twitter.com/fWMz26vpBO
— Gaurav Pandhi (@GauravPandhi) January 3, 2019
When @realDonaldTrump grumbled that @narendramodi was "constantly telling him" India built a library in Afghanistan but god knows who's reading https://t.co/oTjEB3U9RZ
— Jyoti Malhotra (@jomalhotra) January 3, 2019
source: NH
