Congress on Wednesday hit back at the BJP for targeting Leader of Opposotion in the Lok Sabha Rahul Gandhi over his comments and asked the ruling party to clear its stand on reservation, and also slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for giving clean chit to China.
Responding to the charges of BJP, Congress publicity and media department chairman Pawan Khera said, “China entered into our territory and captured it. The Prime Minister gave clean chit to China.”
He said, it is Congress which spoke against the Chinese intrusion and condemned the clean chit that was given to China.
“Anti-national work was done by the person who gave the clean chit to China. Anti-national work was not done by us which condemned the clean chit,” the Congress leader said.
Rahul Gandhi during his interaction in Washington DC on being asked that what he thinks if Prime Minister Modi has managed the US-China competition and said, “Well, if you call having Chinese troops in 4,000 square kilometres of our territory handling something well, then maybe we’ve got Chinese troops occupying land the size of Delhi in Ladakh. I think that’s a disaster…
“How would America react if a neighbour occupied 4000 square kilometres of your territory? Would any president be able to get away with saying that he’s handled that well? So I don’t think PM Modi handled China well at all. I think there’s no reason Chinese troops should be sitting in our territory…” the LoP said.
While commenting on the Sikhs issue on which Rahul Gandhi spoke in US and triggered a controversy in India, Khera said, “There should be freedom in wearing turban. We want that only.”
Targeting the Prime Minister and the BJP, he said, “This is the same BJP where the Prime Minister says that he can recognize with their clothes. This is the same BJP which first beats people just because they are Muslim and they have and their beard.”
Citing examples, Khera said that a youth was killed in Haryana thinking he was a Muslim and then they apologised and will the country stay in such atmosphere.
“We are talking about Constitution, which gives freedom to everyone,” Khera said.
Rahul Gandhi had said: “The fight (in India) is about whether a Sikh is going to be allowed to wear a turban…whether a Sikh will be allowed to wear a kada or go to the Gurudwara. That’s what the fight is about, and it’s not just for Sikhs, but for all religions.”
His comments triggered strong reactions from the BJP. Even Banned terror organisation Gurwantpant Singh Pannun also endorsed Rahul Gandhi’s remarks and dubbed it as “bold and pioneering” and also justified the demand for a separate Khalistani state.
On Union Home Minister Amit Shah tweets alleging anti reservation stand of Rahul Gandhi, Khera said: “I want to challenge Amit Shah that we are ready to increase reservation to more than 50 per cent as of now. Will they clear there stand on reservation.
Ge also commented on Pannun and said, “Give us Pegasus then we will tell who is behind him. His statements come when it suits the BJP.”
On Rahul Gandhi’s meeting Ilhan Omar, he said, “Have they ever heard about Ilham Omar before. She is a lawmaker and she met in a group with Rahul Gandhi. Rahul Gandhi met in a group and not secretly. If the BJP has any issue, then it should summon US Ambassador, Home Minister should write a letter to US State department.”
Omar was part of a group of 10 US lawmakers who met Gandhi in the US on Tuesday.
The first African refugee elected to Congress, Omar, in her earlier term as a Democrat Congresswomen in 2022, had moved an anti-India resolution, saying India was guilty of violating religious freedom. This was shortly after she went to Pakistan-occupied Kashmir, a visit that India had condemned.
Khera while commenting on the fresh violence in Manipur, and said: ” The Prime Minister shouldn’t do cheap politics, he wasted 10 years. He should work, he should go to Manipur and try to wipe the tears of the people and heal there wounds.”
Many people have been injured in Manipur in the fresh violence. Even rocket launchers and drones were used in Manipur for the fresh attack.
Violence erupted in Manipur on May 3 last year and since then hundreds have died while many had to take refuge in the shelter camps.