Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday counters Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi over his observations on the Indian Army and Chinese incursions, terming his remarks "irresponsible politics" in which he has misled the country.
Taking to X, Rajnath Singh denied the claims of Gandhi. "Rahul Gandhi in his speech in Parliament on February 3 made false allegations about the statement of the Army Chief on the situation on the India-China border," Rajnath Singh said.
He said the Defence Minister had told Parliament that "the Army Chief's words referred only to the disturbance of the traditional patrolling by both sides. This, he mentioned, has been restored to the pattern traditionally followed as part of the recent disengement."
Singh further alleged Gandhi had misrepresented the Army Chief's words.
""These words attributed to the Army Chief were never said by him. It is really a matter of deep regret that Rahul Gandhi has chosen to politicize a sensitive issue of this nature," he said.
Countering Singh, "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. Rahul Gandhi may consider introspecting about this phase of our history."
These statements come from the Budget Session of the Lok Sabha, as the Congress leader claims that, according to the prime minister Narendra Modi, who rejected the idea, Chinese forces occupied Indian territory.
"Our armed forces are still talking to China over their intrusion. The Prime Minister has denied it, but our Chief of Army Staff has said that the Chinese are inside our territory," Gandhi claimed during his speech.
He further claimed that "China is sitting on 4,000 sq km of our territory," adding, "The Prime Minister has denied it, and the Army has contradicted him."
Gandhi has linked the alleged incursions of China to the economic policies of India. He said, "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 is 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. 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."
Even as he ventured into a wordy defense, he was interrupted by Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla who demanded evidence for his claims and said, "You will have to present the evidence of what you are speaking in the House.
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