Attacking the incumbent Manmohan Singh government over signing a Border Defence Cooperation Agreement with China, BJP president Rajnath Singh today said if voted to power his party would review it and asserted they would give a "befitting reply" to any neighbouring country which tries to intimidate India along the border.
"Soldiers from Pakistan and China cross over this side repeatedly. But our Prime Minister Manmohan Singh went to Beijing in October 2013 and entered into an agreement with them that if Chinese Army enters, then Indian army will not drive it out, instead will request Chinese troops to return back with hand-folded," Singh told a public rally here.
"What has happened to our Prime Minister? Those who should have given confidence, do this! As regard to this agreement, when we will come (to power), we will review it (BDCA)," he said, adding, BJP seeks to have a congenial relationship with countries including China and Pakistan.
"But if our neighbour does not desist from its acts, or tries to tease us repeatedly, we will tolerate it to a limit and if it continues with its design, we will not desist from giving a befitting reply," he added. In October last, India and China had signed a Border Defence Cooperation Agreement to maintain peace and tranquillity on the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
With the signing of the agreement, both the countries reached a comprehensive agreement to avoid border tensions and army face-offs along the LAC by deciding that neither side will use military capability to attack the other nor tail patrols along the border.
In a scathing attack on Congress-led UPA government, over killing of Indian soldiers on the border and repeated attacks by Pakistani troops, the BJP president said, "Pakistani solider repeatedly intrude into our territory and they attack our jawans.
"Even after that our government sits silent. I want to question PM, Sonia Gandhi and Rahul, what sin have Indian soldiers done? Do you think our Jawans are weak. Just give free hand to Indian Army and then see, no country can dare to see toward us with any ill-design," he added. The BJP president said in the last 60 years of Congress rule the country has not progressed much as it is counted among poor countries of the world.
"In 60 years period Congress has ruled the country. There is no shortage of manpower or resources in a 125 crore people strong country. In 55 years rule of Congress, we should have become a super power in the world but we are counted among the category of poor countries in the world," Singh said.
He also spoke about the "successful" economic programmes of Atal Bihari Vajpayee government from 1998-2004.
"Atal Bihari Vajpayee contained price rise during that rule. But whenever Congress led governments come to rule, price rise and inflation increases," Singh claimed.
"Vajpayee-led government went ahead with nuclear tests conducted five tests and faced sanction from foreign countries, but did not gave up. Even during that period there was no price-rise. In spite of most adverse situations, during Kargil war when our brave soldiers registered a victory over Pakistan, and our exchequer was overburdened by expenditure on war, Atal ji controlled price-rise even then," he claimed.
He hit out the Congress on price rise saying it is a result of the "high degree of corruption" in their government.
"The country is facing a wave of change. People have felt it. The BJP-led NDA coalition is a clear majority," he claimed, adding BJP Prime Ministerial candidate Narendra Modi is a time tested leader.
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