Rahul Gandhi raises China issue, says 'PM's claim of China not taking one inch of our land not true'
Rahul Gandhi raises China issue: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is in Ladakh to pay tribute to his father and former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's 79th birth anniversary, hit out at the Centre over the China issue.
On Sunday, Rahul Gandhi stated that the Centre's claim that not an inch of Indian land was taken by China's People Liberation Army (PLA) troops "is not true".
The Congress MP stated that the locals, too, contend that Chinese troops intruded on and took Indian territory and that this is a matter of concern.
On an overcast Sunday morning, the Congress leader told reporters after paying floral tributes to a framed photograph of the former PM by the gleaming Pangong Tso lake.
"The locals here are concerned about China taking our land. They have said that the Chinese troops took away their grazing land. However, the PM says not an inch of land was taken away. This is not true, you can ask anyone here," the Congress leader stated.
Gandhi also questioned the Union territory status granted to Ladakh following the division of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories following the abrogation of Article 370.
"There were so many complaints from the people of Ladakh, They are not happy with the status that has been given to them, they want more representation and unemployment is also a concern. People are saying that the state should not be run by bureaucracy but by representatives of the people," Congress MP stated.
Rahul recounted a conversation with his father in which Rajiv Gandhi stated that Pangong Tso is the most beautiful area on the earth.
"When I was small, my father returned from a trip to Pangong Tso and showed me pictures of the lake. He said this was the most beautiful location on earth. I was supposed to visit Ladakh during the 'Bharat Jodo Yatra,' but because of logistical issues, the trip had to be cancelled. So I planned a return visit and a longer stay here. I'll also go to the Nubra Valley and Kargil."
- With inputs from agencies
