New Delhi: Key BJP leaders and top ministers led by External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar have launched a blistering attack on Congress MP Rahul Gandhi for his remarks that the Modi government had brought China and Pakistan together.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi lashed out at the Congress leader, stating, “Perhaps Mr. Fake Gandhi is unaware of what former President Late Shri Pranab Mukherjee remarked about China.”
Dr Jaishankar took Twitter and said, “From the 1970s, the two countries (China and Pakistan) also had close nuclear collaboration. In 2013, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor started. So, ask yourself: were China and Pakistan distant then?”
“Rahul Gandhi alleged in Lok Sabha that it is this Government which brought Pakistan and China together. Perhaps, some history lessons are in order: In 1963, Pakistan illegally handed over the Shaksgam valley to China. -China built the Karakoram highway through PoK in the 1970s.”
Taking a dig at the former Congress president for his remarks that there was no foreign guest for this year’s Republic Day parade, Dr Jaishankar said, “…Those who live in India know we were in the midst of a corona wave.” He further wrote, “The five Central Asian Presidents, who were to come, did hold a virtual summit on Jan 27. Did Rahul Gandhi miss that as well?”
Two other ministers targeted the Congress leader for his remarks during the debate in Lok Sabha on Motion of Thanks to President’s address. Union Law Minister Kiren Rijiju said the Congress MP should issue an unconditional apology for his remarks on the judiciary and Election Commission.
“Not only as India’s Law Minister but also as an ordinary citizen, I condemn what Mr Rahul Gandhi has said about India’s judiciary and EC. These are vital institutions of our democracy. Mr. Rahul Gandhi should immediately apologise to the people, judiciary and EC.”
Rijiju’s remarks came on the backdrop of Rahul Gandhi stating that “The Judiciary, the Election Commission, and Pegasus, these are all instruments of destroying the voice of the union of states.”
Parliamentary Affairs Minister Pralhad Joshi said former President late Pranab Mukherjee had in his memoir “written how Congress committed blunders by gifting territories to Pakistan and China and is responsible for India ceding crucial territories to both these countries”.
“For how long will the Gandhi scion act ignorant about his party being hand in gloves with China. Does he forget how Congress sacrificed the national interest by accepting donations from China. Why did the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation take money from China every year?” he asked.
In a tweet, Joshi said, “Is this ignorance or willful blindness of Rahul Gandhi? China and Pakistan have been thick together, thanks to the policies of Congress soon after country’s independence.”
The Parliamentary Affairs Minister also maintained, “He (Rahul) said India is not a country. He said China’s vision is very clear. Have you come here to support China? Tibet problem is because of Congress only.”