Rahul Gandhi Says China Preparing For War While “Our Government Sleeping”

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday accused the government of downplaying the threat posed by China, saying Beijing was preparing for war but Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration was “sleeping”, days after a clash between troops of the two countries along the de facto border in Arunachal Pradesh.

“China is preparing for war, not for an incursion. See their pattern of weapons. They are preparing for war. Our government is not accepting it. The government of India is working on events, not on strategy,” he said.

“China has taken our land. They are beating out soldiers. The threat of China Is clear. And the government is hiding it, ignoring it. China is preparing for an offensive in Ladakh and Arunachal. And the government of India is sleeping,” Mr Gandhi said.

The Congress leader also attacked Foreign Minister S Jaishankar, saying his statements showed he needed to expand his knowledge on China.

He was speaking at a stopover during his pan-India foot march, the ‘Bharat Jodo Yatra’, in Rajasthan’s Dausa with Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot by his side.

The comments come days after the government said China had tried to “unilaterally change the status quo” on the de facto border known as Line of Actual Control in Arunachal Pradesh last week, triggering clashes that left troops on both sides injured, adding that the attempt had been successfully repulsed.