Congress hits out at Modi government over China policy
NEW DELHI: On a day when Prime Minister Narendra Modi meeting Chinese President Xi Jinping in Germany, Congress targeted PM Modi’s government over its "indifference" towards Chinese incursions. Even its party’s vice president Rahul Gandhi also questioned PM Modi’s "silence" on the issue.
In a tweet, Rahul Gandhi, in one of the sharpest attacks on PM said,” "Why is our Prime Minister silent on China?"
Rahul Gandhi’s views were given further push by Congress party in an article published on party’s website, by saying that Modi government's foreign policy is defined by "the prime minister's search for holiday destinations and photo opportunities" instead of serving India's interests.
"His (Modi's) foreign policy is defined by 'hyperbole and empty rhetoric'. He believes, falsely, that talking tough in election rallies is the same as being tough on China on the diplomatic front," it said.
Party further said that during the 10 years of the UPA government, former prime minister Manmohan Singh had ensured that India balanced its relations with all major world powers.
"We ensured that any transgression on the part of China was deftly handled and the UPA understood the nature of global politics and diplomacy," the article stated.
Realising that Modi was a "master bluster rather than a man of action", China, through its government-controlled media made open threats to India and talked about teaching us a "bitter lesson", it said.
"What has surprised and shocked the nation is the meek response of the Modi government. This is the same Narendra Modi whose spin doctors said that he would show 'red eyes' to China, and they would go running back. The only 'red' we have seen is the aggression of China," the article said.
The Congress also stated that in the face of these provocative statements by China, "Home Minister Rajnath Singh merely said that Chinese intrusions were about perception."
"Perception? Tell that to our brave jawans who had to resist the Chinese aggression," the party said.
In the last 45 days, there have been nearly 120 Chinese incursions, it added and Indian bunkers have been destroyed and Chinese warships and submarines reportedly spotted in the Indian Ocean, the Congress said.
Congress also brought out multiple issues including the halting of Mansarovar Yatra to two Chinese choppers entering into Indian air space and some pictures of destroyed bunkers on the Sikkim border.
The Opposition party also alleged that since the Modi government came to power, there had been a "squeeze on release of funds and thus a shortfall in ammunition and equipment for units already raised".