Rahul Gandhi targeted the Center
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday hit out at the Center over Army Chief General MM Naravane’s “China is here to stay” remark in the context of the standoff in eastern Ladakh.
“‘China is here to stay.’ Where? On our land,” Gandhi said on Twitter, tagging a media report on General Naravane’s statement on the PLA build-up.
Rahul Gandhi also hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying he remains silent on “killings of farmers and BJP workers” and rising prices, but when he is criticized or questioned by his “friends”, he become “violent”.
Earlier on Saturday, Chief of Army Staff General MM Naravane said, “Development of new infrastructure to sustain military build-up and large-scale deployment by China in the Eastern Ladakh region is a matter of concern and India is keeping a close watch on it.” All activities by the Chinese PLA.”
He said that if Chinese forces maintain deployment during the second winter, it could lead to a LoC-like situation (Line of Control), though not an active LoC as on the Western Front with Pakistan.
The Chief of the Army Staff said that if the Chinese Army continues its deployment, the Indian Army will also maintain its presence on its side which is “as good as the PLA (People’s Liberation Army)”.
Indian and Chinese armies have been at a standoff for nearly 17 months in several areas along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, though the two sides parted ways this year after a series of talks over several friction points.
“Yes, it is a matter of concern that massive build-up has happened and continues, and to sustain that kind of build-up, there has been an equal amount of infrastructure development on the Chinese side,” Gen. Naravane said at the Indian Today Conclave.
“So, that means they (PLA) are there to stay. We are keeping a close watch on all these developments, but if they are there to stay, then we are there to stay too,” he said.
General Naravane said the construction and infrastructure development on the Indian side is as good as the PLA has done.
In another tweet, the former Congress chief attacked the Prime Minister’s silence on rising fuel prices and the recent “murders” of farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri.
He said in a tweet in Hindi, “PM Chup – Rising inflation, fuel prices, unemployment, killing of farmers and BJP workers. PM Violent – lack of camera and photo-op, true criticism and questions on friends.”
Gandhi and his Congress party have been attacking the prime minister over issues of his silence on China, price rise and the Lakhimpur violence in which eight people, including four farmers, BJP workers and a journalist, were killed.
Speaking at the India Today Conclave on Saturday, General Naravane had said, “Yes, it is a matter of concern that large scale build-up has happened and continues, and to maintain that kind of build-up, China There has been an equal amount of infrastructure development from our side.”
“So that means they (PLA) are there to stay. We are keeping a close watch on all these developments, but if they are there to stay, then we are also there to stay,” he said.
(With inputs from PTI)
read also | Coal crisis can stop everything, Center is denying: Delhi Deputy CM Manish Sisodia
Read also | Another milestone! India has administered more than 95 crore COVID-19 vaccines: Mandaviya
.