Gandhi claimed that Chinese troops have taken control of 4,000 square kilometers of Indian territory in Ladakh, which is approximately the size of Delhi.
Gandhi also emphasized the need for India and the US to collaborate in providing the world with an alternative to China’s “non-democratic production vision.”
Congress MP Rahul Gandhi has once again taken aim at Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s approach to the India-China border issue, alleging that Chinese forces have seized 4,000 square kilometers of Indian land in Ladakh, an area roughly equivalent to the size of Delhi. Gandhi voiced his concerns during a speech at the National Press Club in Washington DC on Tuesday.
Describing the situation as a “disaster,” Gandhi questioned the Prime Minister’s assessment of the situation. “If having Chinese troops occupy 4,000 square kilometers of our territory is considered good handling, then we are facing a serious problem,” Gandhi said. “This is a disaster.”
He criticized the media for allegedly downplaying the issue, asking, “How would the US react if a neighbor occupied 4,000 square kilometers of its land? Would any American president be allowed to say they handled it well?”
Gandhi further asserted that there was no justification for the continued presence of Chinese troops on Indian territory. Despite his criticism, Gandhi emphasized the significance of the India-US partnership, suggesting that both countries should collaborate to present an alternative to China’s “non-democratic vision.” He expressed confidence in the enduring bipartisan support for the India-US relationship and indicated that a potential Congress government would maintain a similar stance to that of Modi’s administration.
This is not the first time Gandhi has raised these concerns. Last year, during a visit to Ladakh, he accused Modi of misleading the Opposition about the border situation, claiming China had taken control of substantial portions of Indian land. He referenced a June 2020 all-party meeting where Modi had denied any loss of Indian territory following a violent clash between Indian and Chinese troops in Ladakh’s Galwan Valley.
