New Delhi, Feb 2 (NationPress) On Monday, Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju called for an apology from the Congress and Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in the Lok Sabha, regarding his contentious remark about "Chinese tanks in Doklam" and for the historical surrender of Indian territory to China.

Speaking to reporters following a Lok Sabha adjournment triggered by Gandhi's comments, Rijiju emphasized that compromising Indian territory is unacceptable. He asserted that the Congress must acknowledge its past mistakes regarding territorial concessions to China prior to 1959 and during the 1962 conflict.

“Under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, India will not yield an inch of land,” he declared, criticizing Gandhi's statements as attempts to propagate a misleading narrative and undermine India's strength.

Rijiju voiced his disapproval of Gandhi's unfounded assertions and reiterated that an apology is warranted from the Congress.

“They cannot reclaim the territory that was surrendered by the Congress government decades ago. If rectifying the past is impossible, at least they should issue an apology,” he remarked.

The Minister also condemned Gandhi's failure to adhere to the Chair's directives, which resulted in a 30-minute disruption in the House.

“We were prepared to engage on the Motion of Thanks to the President’s Address, yet Rahul Gandhi, due to his lineage, perceives himself as above the established protocols of the House,” he stated.

Rijiju criticized the clapping from Congress MPs following Gandhi's disregard for the instructions of Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla, which hindered the legislative process.

“I urge Rahul Gandhi to reflect, think critically, and guide his party members to operate democratically and respect the House rules,” he asserted.

The Minister pointed out that any surrender of Indian territory to China was executed under previous Congress administrations.

He highlighted that under PM Modi, border infrastructure has significantly improved, and the armed forces are operating at full capacity.

When queried about potential disciplinary actions against Gandhi for his undemocratic conduct, Rijiju stated that this matter would be addressed later. “First and foremost, let the Congress apologize for the territorial concessions made to China 50-60 years ago,” he emphasized.

In a separate statement, a defiant Rahul Gandhi informed reporters outside Parliament that he was restricted from discussing excerpts from Army Chief General M.M. Naravane's unpublished memoir, as it would have potentially “exposed” the government and its ministers.