Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Monday targeted the Narendra Modi government over the on-going talks with China, describing them as ‘wasteful’ and claiming that it has ‘jeopardised’ national security.
Separately, Leader of the Opposition in the Rajya Sabha, Mallikarjun Kharge, reacted to reports that United Arab Emirates (UAE) was trying to ‘broker’ peace between India and Pakistan and asserted that the two neighbours have always dealt with each other bilaterally.
“Chinese occupation of Gogra-Hot Springs & Depsang plains is a direct threat to India’s strategic interests including the Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) airstrip. National security massively jeopardised by GOI’s wasteful talks. Our nation deserves better,” Mr. Gandhi said in a tweet.
His comments came after India and China held the 11th round of Corps Commander-level talks in Ladakh last week on the issue of disengagement of troops at Gogra-Hot Springs and Despang plains.
While there was no official word, there were reports that China, after initially agreeing to pull out its troops from Hot Springs and Gogra, has refused to do so.
For almost a year now, the two countries have been engaged in a military face-off but disengaged from the most contentious Pangong Tso area last month after extensive talks.
The Congress also questioned India’s policy with regard to Pakistan and alleged that internal issues such as Kashmir has been internationalized.
“We have seen reports of a UAE diplomat claiming to have brokered contacts between India and Pakistan. It has been one of the successes of Indian diplomacy since the 1972 Simla agreement to ensure that we deal with Pakistan bilaterally, and to prevent foreign mediation. Sadly, under this government, not only are others now mediating between India and Pakistan but our internal affairs like J&K have been internationalised. We hope that our government sees reason and returns to India’s tried and tested policies,” Mr. Kharge said in a virtual press conference.
