Congress leader and Leader of Opposition in Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, on Monday alleged that “China is sitting inside this country because ‘Make in India’ has failed” and emphasized the need for a strong industrial system to counter external threats.
Participating in the debate on the motion of thanks on the President’s Address, Gandhi criticized the government’s stance on the India-China border issue, stating that while the Prime Minister denies Chinese incursions, “for some reason, our Army keeps talking to the Chinese about their entry into our territory and the Chief of Army Staff has said that the Chinese are inside our territory.”
Gandhi stressed that wars are not only fought between armies but by industrial systems, arguing that China’s strong industrial infrastructure gives it the confidence to challenge India.
“The reason China is sitting inside this country is because ‘Make in India’ has failed. The reason China is sitting inside this country is because India is refusing to boost production. I am worried that India will once again lose this industrial revolution to the Chinese,” he stated.
Highlighting India’s dependence on Chinese-made products, Gandhi warned, “When we fight a war with China, we will be fighting with Chinese electric motors, Chinese batteries, Chinese optics, and we will be buying them from China. This is not a sustainable proposition. For our security, for the future of our children, for the future of our country, we have to build a strong production system.”
On India’s strategic partnership with the United States, Gandhi suggested that both nations should collaborate on industrial development. “India is as important as the United States because they cannot build an industrial system without us. The Americans simply cannot do what India can do due to cost advantages,” he added.
His remarks were met with strong opposition from BJP members, with Speaker Om Birla asking him to substantiate his claims. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju accused Gandhi of spreading falsehoods and using “frivolous language” that does not suit his position.
The debate underscored the growing political friction over India’s economic and defense policies, with industrial self-sufficiency emerging as a key topic ahead of upcoming elections.