“Where … on our land”: Rahul Gandhi targets Centre over Army Chief’s ‘China here to stay’ statement
at Centre. Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday targeted the Centre over Army Chief General MM Naravane’s “China was here to stay” remark in the context of standoff in eastern Ladakh.
“‘China here to stay.’ Where? On our land,” Gandhi said on Twitter, tagging a media report on General Naravane’s declaration on the PLA build-up.
Rahul Gandhi likewise hit out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi stating he stays silent on the “killings of farmers and BJP employees”, and rising prices, however turns “violent” when he is criticised or his “good friends” questioned.
Earlier on Saturday, Chief of Army Staff General MM Naravane said, “the military accumulation by China in the eastern Ladakh area and new infrastructure development to sustain the large-scale release are matters of issue and India has actually been keeping a close watch on all the activities by the Chinese PLA.”
He said if the Chinese military maintains the implementation through the 2nd winter, it might result in an LoC-like circumstance (Line of Control) though not an active LoC as is there on the western front with Pakistan
The Chief of Army Personnel said if the Chinese military continues with its deployment, the Indian Army too will maintain its existence on its side which is “as excellent as what the PLA (People’s Liberation Army) has done”.
Indian and Chinese armed forces have actually been on a standoff in several locations along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh for nearly 17 months though both sides disengaged from a number of friction points this year following a series of talks.
“Yes, it refers concern that the massive accumulation has actually happened and continues to be in location, and to sustain that sort of an accumulation, there has been an equivalent amount of facilities advancement on the Chinese side,” Gen Naravane said at the Indian Today conclave.
“So, it implies that they (PLA) exist to remain. We are keeping a close watch on all these developments, but if they exist to stay, we exist to stay too,” he said.
Gen Naravane said the build-up and the infrastructure advancement on the Indian side are as good as what PLA has done.
In another tweet, the previous Congress chief assaulted the prime minister over his silence on the increasing fuel cost prices and the recent “killings” of farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri.
“PM quiet – rising inflation, fuel costs, unemployment, murder of farmers and BJP workers. PM violent – lack of electronic camera and photo-op, real criticism and questions on pals,” he stated in a tweet in Hindi.
Gandhi and his Congress party have been attacking the prime minister on concerns of China, inflation and his silence on the Lakhimpur violence that left eight dead consisting of four farmers, BJP employees and a reporter.
Speaking at the India Today conclave Saturday, Gen Naravane had said, “Yes, it refers concern that the massive accumulation has occurred and continues to be in location, and to sustain that sort of an accumulation, there has been an equivalent amount of infrastructure development on the Chinese side.”
“So, it implies that they (PLA) exist to stay. We are keeping a close watch on all these developments, but if they exist to remain, we are there to remain too,” he had actually stated.
(With inputs from PTI)
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Released at Sun, 10 Oct 2021 10:00:15 -0500
