Prez remarks on Bofors not relevant to Sweden visit: MEA

The reported controversial remarks of President Pranab Mukherjee on Bofors issue to a Swedish daily have no bearing on his upcoming tour of Sweden, the first State visit, beginning on May 31 (<g data-gr-id="13">rpt</g>) May 31, External Affairs Ministry said here on Thursday.

At a media briefing on the upcoming visit of the President to Sweden and Belarus, Navtej Sarna, Secretary (West) in MEA, shot down in a diplomatic style the questions on Mukherjee's reported remarks that Bofors was a "media trial".

"The status, I have just been, for the last 20 minutes, telling you. But I am happy to repeat it full 20 minutes if you like. We are keenly looking forward to the first-ever President of India visit to Sweden and Belarus," Sarna said.

He was responding to questions whether the interview had cast any shadow on Mukherjee's visit to Sweden.