New Delhi: Congress leader Pawan Khera on Tuesday questioned the BJP’s relationship with China, alleging that those who once spoke of showing ‘red eyes’ have instead ‘rolled out a red carpet’ after the party held a meeting with a delegation of the CPC.
He also questioned what discussions with the leaders of RSS and BJP took place with the CPC, and demanded full accountability and complete transparency from the Union Government on policy regarding the neighbouring country.
Addressing a press conference here, Khera, who is the Chairman of media and publicity department demanded “public disclosure of the agenda, outcomes and minutes of all closed-door meetings held between representatives of the CPC and BJP/RSS functionaries.
“As far as (CPC delegation) meeting with Hosable is concerned, we have always maintained that these non-state players should not be allowed to control state policy. RSS works behind shadows. It is a non-registered organisation and why should a non-registered organisation which is ashamed even in coming out openly is allowed to control state policy and hold these meetings,” Khera said.
“What is it that they have to discuss? Culture, I hope. But this is for the BJP-RSS to answer,” he added.
His remarks came a day after the delegation from the CPC, led by its international department’s vice minister Sun Haiyan, visited the BJP headquarters.
Khera targted the BJP and said that for years, the BJP kept shouting that Congress had signed an MoU, and now they themselves are holding meetings.
“We have a problem with the BJP’s intentions, because after these closed-door meetings, the country has to bear the consequences,” he said.
The BJP has a habit of questioning the Congress party about meeting CPC members and Chinese officials, and they unleash a fake propaganda full of lies, but the moot question should be what actually transpires in their own meetings with Chinese officials and the CPC, Khera asked.
He said that nothing is known about the nature of these meetings and the collaboration these meetings have fostered between the CPC (Communist Party of China) and the BJP or RSS ecosystem.
Firing salvos at the government, Khera asked, “Does the BJP raise the issue of repeated Chinese transgressions? Do they talk about restoring the status quo ante (Pre-2020) at the Ladakh border and the LAC? Their rampant military construction and building villages near the LAC? Do they talk about the astronomical trade imbalance with China? The rampant flooding of Chinese goods in India? And ways for India to increase exports to China? Does these meetings talk about Chinese ban on providing rare earth minerals and specialised fertilisers to India?
“Does these meetings talk about the numerous detention of Indian citizens from Arunachal Pradesh by Chinese authorities, over the years? Has the BJP ever confronted China about their role in assisting Pakistan in Operation Sindoor, providing them with weapons, technology and jets?” the Congress leader questioned.
Taking a jibe at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Khera said that ‘laal aankh’ (red eyes) claims, in reality, has become the BJP’s “laal salaams” to the CPC.
“Our strategic interests, our territorial integrity and sovereignty have been severely compromised, in Modi government, following the path to pathetic surrender. Hurting India’s National Interests has become the essence of PM Modi’s foreign policy, ” the CWC member said.
Citing examples of the foreign policy failures, Khera said that in Galwan, 20 Indian Army bravehearts made the supreme sacrifice, but Modi ji fuelled China’s expansionist ambitions by giving the Chinese a clean chit
He then cited that China backed Pakistan militarily during Operation Sindoor, a fact acknowledged by India’s Deputy Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Rahul R Singh, who described China as one of India’s “adversaries”, “but Modi government has now proposed lifting the ban on Chinese companies”.
He also pointed out that China deployed its HQ-9 air defence systems and supplied Pakistan with PL-15 missiles explicitly aimed at India, yet Modi ji went ahead with resuming the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, accepting Chinese conditions.
Slamming the government, he said, “Chinese Foreign Minister, just like US President Donald Trump, has claimed that they intervened to “stop the war” between India and Pakistan, but following his Maun Vrat on the issue, Modi ji has maintained absolute silence.”
He took a dig at the government over banningnthe Chinese apps, and said that China has arbitrarily banned the export of specialised fertilisers to India, and blocking Indian companies from access to critical rare earth minerals, directly hurting Indian farmers and industry
“Yet the Modi government continues to issue tourism visas to Chinese nationals,” he said, adding, “China is making persistent efforts to intrude into the ‘Chicken Neck’ – the Siliguri Corridor – via South Doklam, yet the Modi government remains caught snoozing.”
Discussing the Shaksgam valley issue, Khera said, “China calls the Shaksgam Valley, an integral part of India, ‘as belonging to China’, while justifying infrastructure construction in Indian territory, but Modi ji invited the CPC to the BJP office.”
He also said that China shows inalienable parts of India – Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin in their maps, renames Bharat Mata’s territories but Modi government allows Chinese companies to invest in our electronic sector.
He further pointed out that China builds heavy military presence, creates buffer areas, where status-quo-ante (pre-May 2020) is not maintained.
“Yet Modi government wants to fuel it’s failed Make in India & PLI schemes by granting visas to Chinese workers,” the Congress leader alleged.
He also pointed out that how China has built military bridges in parts of Pangomg Tso, but Modi government ignores the ballooning trade deficit with China and how China proposes to build “Water Bomb” — World’s Largest Dam on Brahmaputra, which can seriously jeopardise India’s water security in the North East.
He alleged that India’s territorial integrity is being repeatedly impinged upon by an audacious China, yet the Modi government refuses to take the nation into confidence by not discussing China in the Parliament.
He also said that it is now crystal clear that China banning specialised fertilisers, blocking Indian companies from access to rare earth minerals, flooding Indian market with cheap Chinese goods, an increase of 56 per cent since Galwan, occupying our land in Ladakh, creating buffer zones, stealing our grazing lands, building military infrastructure near LAC — bridges, airstrips and villages, detaining Indian citizens from Arunachal Pradesh or building the world’s largest dam at the Brahmaputra, potentially creating an ecological havoc in our NE states — has zero effect on BJP’s attachment and affection for the Chinese!
He demanded full accountability and complete transparency from the government on its China policy.
“This must include public disclosure of the agenda, outcomes, and minutes of all closed-door meetings held between representatives of the CPC and BJP or RSS functionaries,” he added.
