Ahmedabad, Aug 4 (NationPress) In light of the Supreme Court's stern comments directed towards the Leader of the Opposition (LoP) in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, concerning his assertion that China had taken control of over 2,000 square kilometers of Indian land, BJP spokesperson Rohan Gupta reprimanded the Congress leader for making unsubstantiated claims. He asserted that it's unacceptable to jeopardize the nation while attempting to challenge the government.

Gupta underlined the constitutional significance of the LoP's position and the weight of responsibility it entails.

In an interview with IANS, Rohan Gupta stated, "The LoP is a constitutional role. As a leading figure of the Opposition, it is imperative that your statements are backed by evidence or are factually correct. Currently, adversaries like China and Pakistan are exploiting these unfounded claims for their propaganda, which is unacceptable."

He emphasized that while the Opposition's role includes scrutinizing the government, doing so irresponsibly can adversely affect the nation's interests.

“If you possess facts, present them. It is your privilege to challenge the government, but if your actions harm the country in the process, it is indefensible,” he remarked to IANS.

Referring to the Supreme Court's observations, Gupta mentioned, "The court clearly indicated that responsibility is crucial. If you believe your assertions hold merit, bring them to Parliament with supporting evidence. The government will be obliged to address them."

"However, if your statements are merely for political advantage and lack factual basis, you are not opposing the government — you are opposing the nation," he asserted.

He warned that unfounded objections can tarnish the country’s reputation.

“Irresponsible claims degrade our national image. This is why the court advised caution in making such declarations,” he told IANS.

The controversy erupted from comments made by LoP Gandhi during his 2022 'Bharat Jodo Yatra', where he accused China of seizing 2,000 square kilometers of Indian territory and claimed Chinese troops were "assaulting Indian soldiers in Arunachal Pradesh.”

The Supreme Court temporarily halted defamation actions against LoP Gandhi related to the statement but issued a severe admonition.

A Bench consisting of Justices Dipankar Datta and Augustine George Masih inquired, “How did you ascertain the annexation of 2,000 km by the Chinese? Were you present? Do you have credible evidence?”

The Bench emphasized, “If you are a genuine Indian, such statements would be unthinkable.”

The court also probed why LoP Gandhi failed to address the matter in Parliament.

“As the Leader of the Opposition, why not pose these questions in Parliament rather than making such claims externally?” the Bench questioned.