Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi Thursday took on the central government over the border row with China and the imposition of tariffs by “ally” United States.
Alleging that China had taken over 4,000 sq km of “our territory”, Gandhi, during Zero Hour, called it a matter of public importance and said: “I was shocked to see our foreign secretary cutting a cake with the Chinese ambassador… China is sitting on 4,000 sq km of our territory. It is a known fact.”
“The question is what’s exactly is happening to this territory… 20 jawans had been martyred and their martyrdom is being celebrated by cutting a cake,” Gandhi said. “We are not against normalcy, but before normalcy, there should be status quo. We should get our land back.”
Gandhi said both Prime Minister Narendra Modi and President Droupadi Murmu had written to the Chinese government, and “the people in India came to know about it from the Chinese Ambassador”.
“Foreign policy is about managing external countries… You have given land to China… Suddenly, our ally decided to impose tariffs on us, which is going to completely devastate our economy – our auto industry, pharmaceutical and agriculture industry… all on the line,” the Congress leader said.
Gandhi was referring to tarrifs announced by the US last evening. US President Donald Trump has declared a 27 per cent reciprocal tariff on India, lower than the 34 per cent imposed on China and 46 per cent on Vietnam, both of which are among the top exporters to the US and key competitors in the American market.
Recollecting a remark by late prime minister Indira Gandhi, he said that when asked whether her leniency in foreign policy is towards left or right, she said she stood straight. “The BJP and the RSS have a different philosophy. They bow their head right in front of every foreigner. It’s not in their culture… But as government, what are you doing. What are you doing on the tariff that our ally has imposed on us?” Gandhi asked.
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Gandhi’s remarks triggered sharp protests from the Treasury Benches. Hitting back, Thakur, a former union minister, alleged it was during the Congress governments that the annexation of Indian territory at the India-China border took place.
He said that all the wrongdoings that the Congress leader pointed out had occurred due to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru’s policies and during his time. He also referred to the allegations that the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation had accepted funds from China. “You still haven’t explained why you accepted donations from China,” Thakur alleged.
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