PM Modi’s claim that ‘not an inch of our land was lost’ to China is false, says Rahul Gandhi in Ladakh

Speaking to reporters after paying a floral tribute to his father and former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi on the banks of the Pangong Tso on the occasion of his 79th birth anniversary, Rahul also raised questions over the Union territory status given to Ladakh.

By: Express Web Desk

New Delhi | Updated: August 20, 2023 11:49 AM IST

4 min read

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi (Twitter: Screengrab/ANI)

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Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, who is on a tour of Ladakh, took a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Sunday and said the PM’s claim that not an inch of land has been lost in the Union Territory “is not true”. He said the local people have confirmed that the “Chinese army entered our land”.

“Here people are saying that the Chinese army has entered our land. They say that now they cannot go to the place which was earlier used for grazing. They are clearly saying… The Prime Minister said not an inch of land has been lost, but that is not true. Ask anyone in Ladakh, they will tell you this,” the Congress MP said.

Speaking to reporters after paying a floral tribute to his father and former prime minister Rajiv Gandhi on the banks of the Pangong Tso on the occasion of his 79th birth anniversary, Rahul also raised questions over the Union territory status given to Ladakh after the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir following the abrogation of Article 370.

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“There were so many complaints from the people of Ladakh. They are not happy with the status that has been given to them. They want more representation, and unemployment is also a concern. People are saying that the state should not be run by the bureaucracy but by representatives of the people,” he added.

Talking about his visit to Ladakh, the Wayanad MP stated that he wanted to visit the place during the Bharat Jodo Yatra but it could not happen due to logistical reasons, so he later decided to make a “detailed visit to the region”.

Echoing Rahul’s remarks, Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Sanjay Raut claimed that there is enough evidence to show China has captured India’s land, and that it would be injustice to the country if the Defence Minister and Prime Minister do not accept this.

“If Rahul Gandhi says something he says it thoughtfully…” Raut told news agency ANI.

Hitting back at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi over his remarks on the PM, Union Minister and BJP MP Jyotiraditya Scindia stated that “Congress who chanted the slogans of ‘hindi chini bhai bhai‘ and gave away 45,000 sq km to China should first look within…”

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On Saturday, Rahul Gandhi, who has been on a social outreach campaign since the Bharat Jodo Yatra, was seen riding a motorbike to Pangong Lake.

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Following the Congress leader’s bike ride from Leh to Pangong Lake, taking to X, formerly Twitter, Union minister Kiren Rijiju posted a video claiming to be from 2012 and compared the road condition en route Pangong Lake apparently during the UPA government and in the present regime. In the video, a series of cars can be seen trying to navigate the route full of boulders and stones.

This is Gandhi’s first visit to Ladakh since Jammu and Kashmir was bifurcated into two Union Territories in 2019. In January, the Congress leader had visited Jammu and Srinagar as part of his Bharat Jodo Yatra.

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