J.P. Nadda, president of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) slammed Congress politician Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday, accusing the rival's party of surrendering Indian land to China after signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in 2008.
In a tweet, the BJP President also slammed Gandhi, criticising him for supposedly trying to divide the nation and demoralise the armed forces during these crucial times, while asking him if it was the effect of the 2008 MoU.
First, Congress signs MoU with Chinese Communist Party.
— Jagat Prakash Nadda (@JPNadda) June 23, 2020
Then, Congress surrenders land to China.
During Doklam issue, Rahul Gandhi secretly goes to Chinese embassy.
During crucial situations, Rahul Gandhi tries to divide the nation & demoralise armed forces.
Effects of MoU? pic.twitter.com/Z3WJhpt4Ol
India, while run by the Congress Party in 2008, had signed an MoU with China to facilitate high-level exchanges between the two nations and consult each other over important regional and international issues.
The remark from BJP's leader came following the latest Twitter attack launched by Gandhi, who wrote in a post, "We stand together against China's attack. Has China captured a piece of Indian land?"
चीनी आक्रमण के ख़िलाफ़ हम एकजुट खड़े हैं।
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 23, 2020
क्या भारतीय ज़मीन पर चीन ने कब्ज़ा किया है? pic.twitter.com/YCEd0P20aU
Meanwhile, former Home Minister and Congress Leader P. Chidambaram cited a media report, which quoted official sources, saying “Commander level talks are aimed at restoration of status quo ante at Ladakh.”
“China has moved up to Finger 4 and has undertaken a major build up between Finger 4 and Finger 8”, Chidambaram tweeted, citing the media report questioning if this means that China has invaded Indian territory.
The HINDU on page 1, quoting official sources, says that the Commander level talks are aimed at “restoration of status quo ante”
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) June 23, 2020
Chidambaram had dared the BJP president to ask Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi to explain the 2,264 times the Chinese incursions took place since 2015, under the Modi government, which has been in power since 2014.
Will @JPNadda please ask the present PM to explain the 2264 Chinese incursions since 2015?
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) June 23, 2020
I bet he will not dare to ask that question.
Chidambaram, a Congress politician and a former Home Minister, however, admitted there were Chinese troop incursions when his party ran the government, too.
It came as the BJP President asked former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to explain the Chinese incursions into Indian during Singh's tenure.
He asked for Manmohan Singh's explanation of the 600 Chinese incursions into India between 2010 and 2013, when Singh was the prime minister of the country.
— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) June 23, 2020
Yes, there were incursions but no Indian territory was occupied by China and no lives of Indian soldiers were lost in violent clashes.
Since the deadly clash during the night of 15 and 16 June, the two Asian giants - India and China have been involved in diplomatic talks as the situation on the border remains tense. On Tuesday, the two sides agreed to disengage from main friction points.
