India has strongly refuted claims made by US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, who alleged that a proposed trade deal between India and the United States failed to materialize because Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not make a phone call to then-President Donald Trump. Lutnick made these remarks on the 'All-In Podcast', stating that while the deal was prepared, the necessary leader-to-leader engagement from Modi's side did not occur, leading to its collapse. However, India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, dismissed Lutnick's characterization as 'not accurate' during a press briefing on Friday. Jaiswal emphasized that India remains keen on concluding a 'mutually beneficial' trade deal and highlighted that Prime Minister Modi and former President Trump had, in fact, spoken on the phone on eight separate occasions in 2025, covering various aspects of their partnership. The broader context of India-US trade relations during this period involved significant tensions, including the Trump administration imposing substantial tariffs, reaching up to 50 percent on Indian goods. These tariffs were partly a response to India's continued purchases of Russian oil, which the US aimed to penalize. India has consistently maintained that its energy policy is independent and driven by strategic autonomy, while also protecting key domestic sectors like agriculture in trade negotiations. In the same briefing where the trade deal claims were denied, India also raised concerns regarding a shooting incident in Minneapolis. Despite the current and past friction, both countries continue to engage in negotiations, aiming for a comprehensive trade agreement that could significantly boost bilateral trade.