New Delhi (Agency): As the G20 summit hosted by India approaches, the Congress party has intensified its criticism of the government over China’s issuance of a new map showing Indian land in Ladakh and Aksai Chin as its territory. Despite Chinese President Xi Jinping’s potential absence from the G20 meet, the Congress has taken aim at the government’s response to the territorial issue.
Former Congress President Rahul Gandhi has been at the forefront of criticizing the government over China’s occupation of Indian land in Ladakh. The matter gained further attention after China released a new map on August 28, depicting Aksai Chin and Arunachal Pradesh as part of its territory.
Gandhi, who recently visited Ladakh, accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of misleading the public about the situation. He alleged that the government has accommodated China’s actions and questioned India’s changing borders. Gandhi’s remarks were made during the third crucial meeting of the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance (INDIA), where leaders from various parties discussed key issues ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections.
Gandhi’s focus on the China issue has drawn attention to alleged failures in India’s diplomacy and governance. Congress leaders view this as an opportunity to highlight the government’s shortcomings and garner public support.
The Congress has also criticized the government’s handling of the Adani Group issue and demanded a Joint Parliamentary Committee (JPC) probe into the matter.
Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra mentioned that both Modi and Xi agreed to expedite disengagement and de-escalation during the BRICS summit in South Africa’s Johannesburg. However, Congress MP Manish Tewari highlighted that the Chinese readout of the meeting did not mention “disengagement.” Tewari questioned the terms of any disengagement and raised concerns about the border issue.
Rahul Gandhi’s strong stance on the China issue has resonated with Congress leaders, who believe it will help the party convey its concerns to the public and challenge the government’s handling of diplomatic relations with China.