Rahul Gandhi's press conference: Amid the border row with China in Arunachal Pradesh's Tawang, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, on Friday, launched a scathing attack on the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led central government. Addressing a press conference in Rajasthan's Jaipur, he claimed, "China is preparing for war, but the Indian government seems to be sleeping."
"China is gearing up for the war but our government is not ready to accept this fact. China's PLA is beating our soldiers on the border. They are preparing for the full offensive, but our government is hiding it. We need to be careful as the government only indulges in rhetoric," Gandhi stated amid his ongoing 'Bharat Jodo Yatra.'
Gandhi also claimed that China has taken away 2,000 square kilometres of Indian territory. "I can see the threat of China very clearly. I have been clear on this for the last two-three years, but the government is trying to hide it and ignore it. This threat can neither be hidden nor ignored," he added.
Speaking further, the 52-year-old leader also stoked optimism that the Congress party will overthrow the BJP. "Mark my words, the Bharatiya Janata Party will be taken down by the Congress party," he added.
Making a veiled attack at the BJP, Gandhi said there is a systematic defamation campaign against him personally and the Congress party. He also asserted that Congress is an ideological party, standing firm against "fascism."
BJP reacts to Gandhi's allegations
Meanwhile, the BJP was quick to react to Gandhi's statements and accused him of doubting the valour of the Armed Forces. "Every proud Indian has seen videos of our men in uniform thrashing the Chinese soldiers, except of course Rahul Gandhi, who continues to doubt their valour just because he signed an MoU with the Chinese, his family enjoyed Chinese hospitality and received funds in RG Foundation… (sic)," tweeted Amit Malviya, the BJP's IT department in-charge.
Meanwhile, BJP leader Rajyavardhan Rathore said Rahul Gandhi's maternal grandfather was sleeping when India lost 37,000 sq km to China. "He has become so close to China that he knows what it is going to do next. Rajiv Gandhi Foundation received a donation of Rs 1.35 crore from the Communist Party of China," he added.
Congress accuses govt of succumbing to pressure from China
It should be mentioned here that Congress has been accusing the BJP-led government of succumbing to pressure from China and not taking on the neighbouring country after its frequent transgressions at the border.
The opposition party has been saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi should take on China and address the border issues with it strongly by looking "eye to eye". Further, the grand old party has also been seeking a discussion in Parliament on the border issue and Chinese transgressions at the border.
