Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday accused Congress leader Rahul Gandhi of making "false allegations" about the statement of the Army chief on the situation at the India-China border.
"The words attributed to the Army Chief by Shri Rahul Gandhi were never spoken by him at any time. It is a matter of deep regret that Shri Rahul Gandhi should indulge in irresponsible politics on matters of national interest," he said in a social media post.
This reaction came after Rahul Gandhi, who is leader of opposition, in his speech on Monday in Lok Sabha during the discussion on the Motion of Thanks to the President's address, claimed that the Chinese have intruded on Indian land but Prime Minister Narendra Modi has denied it. The Army disagreed with the prime minister, he had said.
"The Prime Minister has denied that Chinese forces are inside our territory but for some reason our army keeps talking to the Chinese about their entry into our territory and our chief of army staff has said that the Chinese are inside our territory," Rahul Gandhi had said.
On Tuesday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said in a social media post regarding certain remarks made in Parliament by Rahul Gandhi about the statement of the Chief of the Army Staff on the situation along the India-China border, officials statement said.
A statement by defence ministry about Rajnath's remarks said he stated that the Army Chief's observations pertained to the temporary disturbance of traditional patrolling patterns by both sides along the border. He further emphasised that these patrolling practices have now been restored to their traditional pattern following the recent disengagement efforts. These details were previously shared in Parliament.
The defence minister also clarified that the words attributed to the Army Chief in the parliamentary debate were never stated by him at any time. He underscored the importance of accuracy and responsible discourse on matters concerning national security.
Rajnath Singh reiterated that with respect to territorial issues, it is well documented that 38,000 sq. km of Indian territory in Aksai Chin has been under Chinese control since the 1962 conflict. Furthermore, 5,180 sq. km of territory was ceded by Pakistan to China in 1963. These historical facts remain an integral part of India's territorial discourse.
Meanwhile, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Tuesday wrote to Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla for initiating breach of privilege proceedings against Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for "blatant lies and vilification campaign" during his speech in the House.
With the Leader of Opposition's speech on Monday during the discussion on the Motion of Thanks on the President's Address drawing strong protests from the ruling BJP, Dubey submitted his notice to the Speaker and claimed that the Congress leader is using his parliamentary privilege to spread canards without authenticating his charges.
The BJP MP said Rahul Gandhi's speech carried mainly claims, including that mobile phones were not made in India but only assembled here and China has captured the Indian territory. He had also alleged that India had sent Foreign Minister S Jaishankar to the US get an invite for Prime Minister Narendra Modi for US President Donald Trump's swearing-in ceremony.
In his letter, Dubey touched on the issues as well as the Congress leader's allegations related to his demand for caste census.
He alleged, "While raising these issues, Rahul Gandhi has not only shamelessly distorted the historical and substantive facts but also made an attempt to ridicule our country and lowering the prestige of our Republic." Dubey noted that Birla had asked Rahul Gandhi to authenticate his claims while noting that the Congress leader had not done it yet.
In a swipe at the Leader of Opposition, Dubey said, "This 'erudite' person has neither authenticated his gibberish canards nor apologised of using the pious forum of Parliament to defame our country and the elected government."
He accused Gandhi of blatantly misusing the Constitution's Article 105, which accords privileges to parliamentarians for their comments made inside the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha.
Claiming that the privilege is subject to provisions of the Constitution and to the rules and standing orders regulating the procedure of Parliament, Dubey alleged that Rahul Gandhi was misusing Parliament on an "utterly false and imaginary notion" that he as an MP has an inherent privilege to speak whatever he likes on the floor of the House.
The Congress leader seemed to believe that even the presiding officer or the Leader of the House or the treasury benches have no authority to discipline his "delinquent" behaviour, he said.
He said, "The fact remains that the Article 105 does not give absolute powers and freedom to any public representative, especially of the ilk of Rahul Gandhi, of there would be anarchy in the House."
Dubey said it is an established legal position that MPs broadly enjoy various privileges are subject to various widely accepted "mores".
Urging the Speaker to initiate proceedings against Gandhi, he alleged that Parliament's records and proceedings are a testimony to his incessant irresponsible attitude as the "guardian of 'India Chapter of Foreign Tool-Kit" aimed at destabilizing the country. In his speech, Rahul Gandhi had claimed that the Modi's 'Make in India' initiative had failed.
"When we talk to the US, we wouldn't send our foreign minister to (get) our PM invited to his (US President's) coronation. We will not send our foreign minister 3-4 times (to say) please invite our prime minister," he said while levelling several charges against the government.
