Launching a barrage of verbal attacks at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remark that India is ignoring the threat of war from China, Union minister Anurag Thakur said that the former Congress chief was seen having soup with Chinese officials during Doklam incident when Indian Army was fighting with PLA troops.
Gandhi at a press meeting on Friday alleged that China is preparing for war and the Indian government is sleeping over it and trying to ignore the threat.
Hitting out at him, Thakur said, “When Indian Army did surgical strikes, even then he (Rahul Gandhi) questioned us. Rahul Gandhi and Congress doesn’t have faith in our Army.”
He also slammed the previous UPA regime, saying that it could not purchase fighter jets, bulletproof jackets or snow boots for Army personnel in its 10-year tenure.
“This is not the India of 1962, this is the India of 2014. India is moving forward under the leadership of PM Modi. UPA government could not purchase fighter jets, bulletproof jackets or snow boots for our army for 10 years. What did you do for our Army? he asked.
“More than 300 defence items are being made in India today. India is now an exporter of defence equipment and not an importer anymore. This is ‘Aatmanirbhar Bharat’. Even during the Doklam incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited our Army,” he added.
Rahul’s war threat warning sparks row
Speaking to media persons on the sidelines of his Bharat Jodo Yatra on Friday Gandhi said, “I can see the threat of China very clearly. I have been clear on this for the last two-three years, but the government is trying to hide it and ignore it. This threat can neither be hidden or ignored. Going by their full offensive preparation that is on in Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh, the Indian government is asleep.”
He further said that China’s preparation for war is on and that the government does not want to hear this.
“If you look at their weapon pattern, what they are doing — they are preparing for war. Our government hides this and is not able to accept it,” the former Congress chief said.
