In a fierce attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has said those claiming Chinese forces haven’t occupied Indian territory in Ladakh are “not nationalistic and patriotic”, and he will continue to speak the truth about Beijing’s transgressions.
Stepping up the attack on the Government over the Chinese intrusions, Rahul said the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) continues to occupy parts of Indian territory in Ladakh.
“Now, it is pretty clear that the Chinese have entered our territory. This disturbs me. It makes frankly my blood boil. How can some other nation just come into our territory?” he said in the video message.
Rahul, who has been criticised by the BJP for his remarks on the border standoff, said “hiding the truth” and allowing China to occupy Indian territory is “anti-national”, and bringing it to people’s attention is “patriotic”.
“I don’t care if I don’t have a political career after that but I am going to say the truth as far as the India territory is concerned,” Rahul said in a video message series.
“If you want me to lie that the Chinese have not entered this country I am not going to lie. I simply will not do it. I don’t care if my whole career goes to hell. I’m not going to lie,” he added.
The ruling BJP too was quick to retort that Rahul Gandhi’s offer is an empty one because his career in fact has already tanked.
“Your political career ended soon after it took off. The people of this country don’t see him has any leader. It ended in 2019, and now, you are determined to kill the future of the Congress party,” BJP MP and national spokesperson GVL Narasimha Rao said.
At the AICC Press conference, when Chidambaram was asked whether he has been consulted on Rahul Gandhi airing of his foreign policy perspective, the former Home Minister responded that he (Rahul Gandhi) has not served as Defence or Foreign Minister. He said Rahul Gandhi does sometimes seek his opinion “but not for these videos”.