Washington: Congress leader and Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi fired a fresh salvo at the BJP-led Centre over its handling of India-China border dispute and said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi didn’t handle China well. He also alleged that the Chinese troops have occupied land the size of Delhi in Ladakh. He made the remarks at a press conference at the prestigious National Press Club in US’ Washington on Tuesday.
Asked if he thinks India has managed the US-China competition well under Narendra Modi government, Gandhi said, “Well, if you call having Chinese troops in 4,000 square kilometres of our territory handling something well, then maybe. We’ve got Chinese troops occupying land the size of Delhi in Ladakh, and I think that’s a disaster.”
‘Don’t think PM Modi handled China well’
The former Congress chief asked how the US would react if a if a neighbour occupied 4,000 square kilometers of its territory. “Would any president be able to get away with saying he’s handled that well?” he asked “So, I don’t think Mr. Modi has handled China well at all. I see no reason why Chinese troops should be sitting in our territory,” he added.
No talks with Pak unless flow of terrorism stopped
Gandhi, however, supported PM Modi’s policies on Pakistan and indicated that his party was in alignment with the ruling BJP on major foreign policy issues including no dialogue with Pakistan unless the flow of terrorism is stopped.
The Congress leader attributed the strained ties between New Delhi and Islamabad to Pakistan’s instigation of terrorism in India. He said that India will not tolerate Pakistan carrying out terror acts in the country. Gandhi asserted that the tension between the two countries will continue until Pakistan keeps encouraging terrorism. Asked if the Kashmir issue is holding the two South Asian nations away from a dialogue, he said “no”. The Congress leader was on an unofficial three-day visit to the US that concluded on Tuesday.