Rahul Gandhi Challenges China Border Claim in Lok Sabha, Sparks Controversy Over Trump Invitation

New Delhi, Feb 3 (NationPress) The Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, delivered a fierce critique against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP-led NDA government on Monday, contending that the Prime Minister was "compelled" to respect the Constitution following the 2024 general elections outcome.

In his attack on the Modi administration, especially the Prime Minister, he stated that the latter was "compelled" to acknowledge the Constitution after the 2024 elections, attempting to assert a moral upper hand over Congress's strong advocacy for "saving the Constitution" as elections approached.

While addressing the Motion of Thanks to the President's Address in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi remarked, "I recall that prior to the elections, all of you (BJP) were proclaiming '400 Paar' and asserting that you would modify this (referring to the Constitution). I was pleased to observe that the Prime Minister entered and was then forced to bow his head before the Constitution."

"It was a moment of pride for all Congress members that we had conveyed to the Prime Minister and to the entire nation that no force would dare to tamper with this (while holding the Constitution)", he added.

The Congress MP expressed that he was "struggling" during the President's Address, which he described as merely a "laundry list" of government accomplishments that neglected to address fundamental issues. He then presented what he termed an "alternative vision" for the nation, with an emphasis on youth and unemployment.

"The future of this nation will be determined by its youth. Anything I articulate must be directed at them, with a focus on their concerns," he stated.

The LoP acknowledged that PM Modi's 'Make in India' initiative was a commendable idea in theory but ultimately fell short.

"I am not blaming the Prime Minister because it's unfair to claim he did not make an effort. He tried, and conceptually 'Make in India' was a brilliant notion, as manufacturing declined from 15.3 percent of GDP to 12.6 percent," he noted.

"Governments since 1990 have managed consumption reasonably well. However, we, as a nation, have faltered in organizing production," the LoP asserted.

He also criticized successive administrations, including the Congress-led UPA, for failing to address unemployment. "Neither the UPA nor the current NDA government has provided a clear response to the youth regarding employment," he stated.

Union Minister Kiren Rijiju and multiple BJP MPs objected to his remarks concerning production and economic shortcomings, yet Gandhi persisted, stressing that India must shift its focus from consumption to production.

"If we fail to do this, we will incur substantial deficits, heighten inequality, and encounter serious challenges," he cautioned.

The Congress MP also raised alarms about China, claiming that despite PM Modi's denials, Chinese forces had occupied Indian territory.

"Our armed forces are still negotiating with China regarding their incursion. The Prime Minister has denied it, but our Chief of Army Staff has indicated that the Chinese are within our territory," he asserted.

The LoP further claimed that the Prime Minister "has denied it, and the Army has contradicted the Prime Minister that China is encroaching upon 4000 sq km of our territory."

"Our Chief of Army Staff has stated that the Chinese are inside our territory. This is a fact. The rationale behind China's presence in our territory is significant. The reason China is here is due to the failure of 'Make in India'. India is hesitant to produce, and I fear that we are on the cusp of surrendering this revolution to the Chinese once more. If and when we engage in conflict with China, we will be utilizing Chinese electric motors, Chinese batteries, and Chinese optics, and we will be purchasing Chinese components," he added.

During his Lok Sabha address, he faced interruptions, with Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla stating, "You must provide evidence for your statements in the House."

Linking the matter to economic reliance on China, he displayed his mobile phone, asserting, "Even though we assert that we manufacture phones in India, this is misleading. We merely assemble them here. All components are produced in China. We are financially supporting China."

Gandhi warned that if India does not fortify its production systems, the nation could encounter severe repercussions.

"If and when we engage in a conflict with China, we will be deploying Chinese motors, Chinese optics, and Chinese batteries against them," he emphasized.

Rahul Gandhi reiterated the call for a caste census, contending that OBCs, Dalits, and tribal communities remain underrepresented in both economic and political realms.

"We conducted a caste survey in Telangana and discovered that 90 percent of the population consists of Dalits, tribals, backward classes, and minorities. Yet, none of the largest corporations in the country are owned by them," he claimed.

Addressing BJP's OBC leaders, he remarked, "Bear in mind, OBCs constitute 50 percent of the population, yet you possess no genuine authority. I recognize that you cannot even express your thoughts. This is the reality of our nation."

Kiren Rijiju contested this, highlighting that the Prime Minister himself belongs to an OBC community, labeling Gandhi's comments as "baseless."

The LoP also raised issues regarding electoral integrity, alleging discrepancies in the voter rolls in Maharashtra.

"Between the Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections, 70 lakh new voters were suddenly added. This is comparable to the entire population of Himachal Pradesh being included in Maharashtra's voter list," he asserted, expressing skepticism that the Election Commission would provide satisfactory explanations.

He also questioned the exclusion of the Chief Justice of India from the panel responsible for selecting the Chief Election Commissioner.

"Why was the CJI removed from the committee?... Now, it will be Amit Shah, the Prime Minister, and myself -- two against one -- what is the point of my participation?" he queried, adding, "These are facts."

Taking a jab at the government's foreign policies, Rahul Gandhi stated, "When we engage with the United States, we should not dispatch our foreign minister to invite our Prime Minister to their coronation. If we had a robust industrial foundation, the American President would come here to extend an invitation to our Prime Minister instead."

This statement elicited strong dissent from BJP MPs, with Kiren Rijiju denouncing it as an "unverified and serious claim" that misrepresented India's global standing.

Throughout his address, Speaker Om Birla interrupted Rahul Gandhi multiple times, demanding evidence for his assertions, particularly regarding Chinese intrusions and electoral information.

Nonetheless, the Congress legislator remained resolute, insisting that his comments were grounded in "facts."