New Delhi, February 4: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday strongly rebutted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s remarks regarding the situation along the India-China border and the statement made by the Army Chief. Singh clarified that the Army Chief had only spoken about the disruption of traditional patrolling practices by both India and China, a situation that had been resolved as part of the recent disengagement process. Singh emphasized that the words attributed to the Army Chief by Gandhi were never spoken by him.
In a post on X, Singh responded to Gandhi’s speech in Parliament on February 3, where the opposition leader had made allegations about the Army Chief’s remarks. Singh stated, “The Army Chief’s comments referred only to the disturbance of traditional patrolling by both sides and the restoration of these practices as part of recent disengagement. These details have been shared in Parliament.” He further criticized Gandhi for indulging in what he called “irresponsible politics” on a matter of national interest, stating that such claims were false and baseless.
Singh also took the opportunity to remind Gandhi of the historical context surrounding Chinese territorial encroachments, stating, “If there is any Indian territory that China has taken, it is the 38,000 square kilometers in Aksai Chin, which were lost after the 1962 conflict, along with the 5,180 square kilometers ceded by Pakistan to China in 1963.” Singh suggested that Gandhi should introspect about this part of India’s history.
Earlier, during the debate on the motion of thanks on the President’s Address, Rahul Gandhi had accused the government of failing to protect Indian territory, linking it to the failure of the “Make in India” initiative. He alleged that while Prime Minister Narendra Modi denied Chinese forces’ presence on Indian soil, the Army had acknowledged their presence. Gandhi referenced the Army Chief’s comments, claiming that China had infiltrated India’s territory.
In response, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju took a firm stand against Gandhi’s remarks, highlighting that the Speaker of the Lok Sabha had asked Gandhi four times to authenticate his claims. Rijiju criticized the Leader of Opposition for failing to provide substantiation for his allegations and walking out of the House before responding. He stressed the importance of responsible discourse from the Leader of Opposition, stating, “If the Leader of Opposition speaks without verification, it sets a dangerous precedent.”
Rajnath Singh’s strong rebuttal has once again brought the national security debate to the forefront, with both the government and opposition continuing to clash over the India-China border issue.