‘Not India of 1962’: Union ministers step up attack on Rahul Gandhi over China war threat remarks | India News

NEW DELHI: Union ministers Rajnath SinghKiren Rijiju and Anurag Thakur on Saturday lashed out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for his remarks on China and the Army.
Taking to Twitter, Rijiju said, “Rahul Gandhi is not only insulting Indian Army but damaging nation’s image. He is not only a problem for the Congress Party but he has also become a huge embarrassment (for) the country.”

The member of Parliament from Arunachal Pradesh said people are proud of the Indian armed forces.

In another tweet, Rijiju said Yangtse area in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang is “fully secured now” due to “adequate deployment of the brave jawans of Indian Army”.
Rijiju shared his undated picture with army personnel in Arunachal Pradesh.
Meanwhile, defence minister Rajnath Singh said that Rahul’s remarks were in bad taste and made it clear that the Centre has never questioned the intention of leaders in the opposition.

“We have never questioned the intention of leaders in the opposition, we have only debated on the basis of policies. Politics is done by speaking the truth,” he said.
“The word ‘Rajneeti’ is derived from Raj and Neeti. They mean to carry out. The aim of politics is to create a political system for the welfare of society. Its purpose is not to raise suspicion on intentions whether it’s Galwan or Tawang, our defence forces have done miraculous jobs,” Singh said while speaking at the FICCI Annual Convention and AGM in the national capital.
Singh added that the bravery and valour displayed by the armed forces during the Galwan valley clashes and the recent face-off in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh is commendable and any amount of praise for them is not enough.
Union minister Anurag Thakur accused Rahul Gandhi of “spreading fear” in the name of China and wondered whether the opposition leader had lost faith in the armed forces.

Slamming Gandhi for his remarks that the Chinese “were beating our soldiers”, Thakur said the former Congress president was busy “having soup” with the Chinese when Indian soldiers were fighting Chinese jawans at Doklam.
“These people have the habit of spreading fear in the name of China. But this is not the India of 1962, this is the India of 2014. India is moving ahead under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi,” Thakur said.
On Friday, in an apparent reference to the recent faceoff between the Indian and Chinese troops in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh, Congress MP Rahul Gandhi had accused the Centre of “sleeping” while China makes “offensive preparations” across the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Gandhi also alleged that China has taken away 2,000 square kilometres of Indian territory, killed 20 Indian soldiers and is “beating up our jawans in Arunachal Pradesh”.
His criticism came on a day when Eastern Army commander Lt General R P Kalita said border areas along the country’s northern frontier are “stable” and that the Indian Armed forces remain “firmly in control”. “We are prepared for all eventualities and all contingencies.”
BJP chief JP Nadda and national spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia had earlier slammed Rahul for his remarks.
Indian and Chinese troops had clashed along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh on December 9 and the face-off resulted in minor injuries to a few personnel from both sides.
(With inputs from agencies)
Watch Never questioned intention of opposition leaders: Rajnath Singh slams Rahul Gandhi