Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday slammed Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi for his comments in the Parliament on the border row with China and said he was engaging in ‘irresponsible politics’ on issues related to national interest.
In an X statement, Singh said: “Shri Rahul Gandhi in his speech in Parliament on 03 February 2025 made false allegations about the statement of the Army Chief on the situation on the India-China border.”
“The Army Chief’s remarks referred only to the disturbance of traditional patrolling by both sides. He also mentioned that these practices have been restored to their traditional pattern as part of the recent disengagement. Government has shared these details in Parliament,” Singh said.
“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.
Referring to the Inia-China war in 1962, Singh said: “If at all there is Indian Territory into which China has come, this is 38,000 sq. km in Aksai Chin as a result of the 1962 conflict and 5,180 sq. km. illegally ceded by Pakistan to China in 1963. Shri Rahul Gandhi may consider introspecting about this phase of our history.”
In his Motion of Thanks on the President’s speech in the Lok Sabham Gandhi was quoted as saying: “Our Chief of Army Staff has said that the Chinese are inside our territory. This is a fact. The reason China is inside our territory is important…The reason China is sitting inside this country is because ‘Make in India’ has failed.”
“The reason China sitting inside this country is because India is refusing to produce and I’m worried that India is going to give up this revolution to the Chinese once again,” he said, launching a scathing attack on the Centre.
He said: “If and when we fight a war with China, we will be fighting with Chinese electric motors, Chinese batteries and Chinese optics and we will be buying Chinese motors, Chinese optics and Chinese batteries.”
