India’s Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) rejects comments by a former Japanese minister regarding alleged delays in the Mumbai–Ahmedabad high-speed rail project. In its response, the MEA says the former minister’s remarks reflect an individual opinion and does not align with the information available to the government. The MEA also states that there is “considerable variance with facts,” disputing the delay claim. According to the MEA, the official discussions related to the high-end rail project continue and are progressing well. The MEA’s position is consistent across the two outlets’ reports: it emphasizes that the project dialogue between parties is ongoing and that the criticism does not accurately represent the current status. The MEA does not indicate that timelines have changed, but it counters the allegation of slippage by pointing to the ongoing nature of negotiations. Overall, the government’s response aims to clarify that the matter is being handled through active engagement and that external criticism is not supported by its assessment of the facts.