Ladakh: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi expressed dismay at Prime Minister Narendra Modi's denial of China's encroachment on the country's land, emphasizing that a significant portion of this strategic location had been lost to China.
This statement came during the final day of Gandhi's extended visit to the Union Territory, where he addressed a crowd at Beamathang.
Gandhi asserted that Ladakh, being a "strategic location," has suffered from the loss of significant land to China. He expressed disappointment over Prime Minister Modi's denial of this situation during an opposition meeting. Despite the denial, Gandhi claimed that local residents confirmed the presence of the "Chinese army" on Indian soil.
The Congress leader's criticism extended to PM Modi's assertion that not "an inch of land" had been lost in Ladakh. Dismissing this as a "blatant lie," Gandhi insisted that it was evident to him that China had taken "hundreds of kilometres of land" during his visit to Pangong Lake on the eve of former Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi's birth anniversary.
During his visit to Ladakh, Gandhi claimed to have engaged with the local population to understand their concerns, drawing a comparison to PM Modi's radio program 'Mann ki Baat.' He expressed his commitment to addressing the challenges faced by the people, including unemployment and inadequate communication systems.
Amidst his rally speech, Gandhi also highlighted Congress' recent electoral successes in Karnataka and Himachal Pradesh. He expressed confidence in the party's prospects in upcoming elections in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Chhattisgarh, and Telangana.
Gandhi concluded his address by emphasizing Ladakh's rich natural resources and asserting that the issue at hand was about land ownership. He alleged that the BJP aimed to hand over Ladakh's land to corporate interests and pledged his support to the demands put forth by local organizations, including Leh's apex body and the Kargil Democratic Alliance.