Rahul says PM surrendered Galwan Valley
nNEW DELHI: The war of words between the opposition and the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) over the border standoff with China in the Galwan valley in eastern Ladakh escalated on Saturday with former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi hadsurrenderedindianterritory to Chinese aggression.
Union home minister Amit Shah soon hit back at Gandhi, advising him to rise above “petty politics” and stand in solidarity with national interest at a time when the whole nation is united.
Gandhi’s remarks came a day after the Prime Minister stated that no intruder remained in India’s territory nor had any of its posts been captured.
“PM has surrendered Indian territory to Chinese aggression. If the land was Chinese: 1.Why were our soldiers killed? 2. Where were they killed?” he tweeted.
Gandhi also tagged the Prime Minister’s remarks, made at Friday’s all-party meeting called to discuss the situation at the Indiachina border following violent clashes between troops of the two countries on June 15 in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed.
It was the first time since 1975 that India suffered combat fatalities in a skirmish with Chinese troops. Ten Indian soldiers detained by the Chinese side during the violent brawl of June 15 were later released after intense negotiations through diplomatic and military channels.
Union home minister Amit Shah on Saturday hit back at former Congress president Rahul Gandhi over his statement.
Putting a video of the father of an injured army man on his Twitter account, Shah said, “A brave armyman’s father speaks and he has a very clear message for Mr
Gandhi. At a time when the entire nation is united, Mr Rahul Gandhi should also rise above petty politics and stand in solidarity with national interest.”
Later in the day, senior Congress leader and former finance minister P Chidambaram asked the government to clarify its position. “The Prime Minister’s remark that no outsider was inside Indian territory in Ladakh had practically left everyone baffled and bewildered,” he said.
Addressing a virtual news conference, Chidambaram said the PM’S remarks contradicted the earlier statements of army chief General MM Naravane, defence minister Rajnath Singh and external affairs minister S Jaishankar.
He said even after the PM’S statement on Friday, China had blamed India for the June 15 clashes and re-asserted its claim to the entire Galwan Valley.
“What is the government’s answer to this claim? Now that China is claiming the entire Galwan Valley, will the government of India reject this claim? If it does not reject the Chinese claim today, it can have terrible consequences,” he said.
BJP chief JP Nadda also hit out at the Congress, alleging that its leaders were demoralising the Indian army. “When we are fighting in Galwan, a leader is damaging the morale of forces with his tweets...,” he said.
Samajwadi Party president and former Uttar Pradesh chief minister Akhilesh Yadav said while the nation stands with the government the people must be told the truth about the clash.
“The nation stands with the govt against Chinese incursions. But was the incident in which our soldiers were martyred an incursion? If not then why did MEA ask for status quo ante? Is the Galwan Valley Indian or not? We do not need clarifications,” he tweeted.