• Source:JND
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Amid an ongoing row over female journalists being banned at a Taliban press conference in Delhi, the central government on Saturday reportedly clarified that it had no role in the decision. The clarification came amid a backlash from several opposition leaders, including the Congress leaders Priyanka Gandhi Vadra and P Chidambaram. The Ministry of External Affairs clarified that it was not involved in the presser held by the Afghan foreign minister.

“The Ministry of External Affairs had no involvement in the press interaction held yesterday by the Afghan foreign minister in Delhi,” one of the official sources was quoted as saying by India Today. Earlier, while criticising the absence of female reporters at the presser, Priyanka Gandhi asked the Prime Minister Narendra Modi to clarify his stand on the controversial issue.

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"Prime Minister @narendramodi ji, please clarify your position on the removal of female journalists from the press conference of the representative of the Taliban on his visit to India," Priyanka Gandhi stated in a post on X (formerly Twitter).

"If your recognition of women's rights isn't just convenient posturing from one election to the other, how has this insult to some of India's most competent women been allowed in our country, a country whose women are its backbone and its pride," she added.

Earlier on Friday, a presser addressed by Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi saw participation restricted to a handful of reporters while women journalists were conspicuous by their absence. Muttaqi held the interaction at the Afghan embassy in New Delhi, hours after holding wide-ranging talks with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar.

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It is learnt that the decision on inviting journalists to the media interaction was taken by Taliban officials accompanying the foreign minister. People familiar with matter said the Indian side had suggested to the Afghan side that women journalists should be part of the invitees for the event.