Puri wrote: “He (Amorim) said that such views, even if expressed by a junior minister, generate pressures from the Brazilian press, sections of which are more inclined in favour of intensifying cooperation with the US and European countries rather than important developing countries like India.’’

Puri has also pointed to Brazil being extra-sensitive on the issue as Presidential polls there are scheduled for October 1. And the tri-lateral meeting between Prime Minister Singh, President Lula Da Silva and South African President Thabo Mbeki is on September 12-13.

Puri went on to add that the Brazilian Foreign Minister had asked him to request the Indian leadership to correct the picture either in New Delhi or in Brasilia.

To do that, Ramesh’s senior, Union Commerce Minister Kamal Nath has advanced his trip by a day — the Prime Minister is leaving on Sunday — and is leaving for Brasilia tonight to clarify that Ramesh’s statement is not the official Indian position.

In fact, South Block has already told Brazil’s Ambassador to India Jose Vicenta De Sa Pimental that Ramesh is not authorized to speak on such issues. Nath was initially scheduled to leave for Brasilia tomorrow to attend the G-20 Ministerial and then stay back as part of the PM’s team at the IBSA summit. Ramesh was unavailable for comment.