New Delhi: China is doing to India what Russia has done to Ukraine, said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in a conversation with actor-turned-politician Kamal Haasan, underlining that the problems at the border “are connected to what is going on inside the country”.
In a 22-minute interaction, released on Rahul Gandhi’s Youtube channel Monday, the MP said that China is “threatening India” saying it will change the country’s geography if it’s not watchful.
“Essentially what the Russians have done in Ukraine is said, ‘Look, we will not accept that the Ukrainians have a strong relationship with the West.’ If you have a strong relationship with the West, we will alter your geography. And that is the exact same principle that can be applied (by China) in India”, noted Gandhi.
He added: “What the Chinese are saying to us, is ‘be careful with what you are doing because we will alter your geography. We will enter Ladakh. We will enter Arunachal’. And what I can see is them building a platform for that type of an approach.”
The conversation was recorded after Haasan walked with the Congress leader in the Bharat Jodo Yatra on 24 December in Delhi.
Gandhi further said that an “internal cohesion” was required to fight the Chinese offensive.
“As an Indian person, I don’t want to be war mongering but I’d like our country to be aware that there are problems on the border. And those problems of the border are connected to what is going on inside the country.
“When Indians fight Indians, when the economy doesn’t work, when there’s joblessness, our external opponents can take advantage of that situation”, said Gandhi.
On his part, Haasan talked about India’s G20 presidency, saying the country’s position as the head is not because of one government but multiple governments.
“We are in G20, not because of one government but successive governments and whatever good they could do. That has accumulated and come to this day”, he said.
‘Made Hey Ram To Apologise To Bapu’
During his conversation with Gandhi, Haasan expressed how he had an unfavourable opinion of Mahatma Gandhi when he was a teenager, despite his father being a Congressman.
“My environment made me a bitter critic of Gandhi ji when I was in my teens,” said Haasan.
“When I was 24-25, I discovered Gandhi ji on my own and over the years, exponentially I’ve become a fan”, he explained.
“That’s why I made Hey Ram, where I played a parallel assassin wanting to kill Gandhi ji. And as he gets closer to the person and the truth, he changes. That is my way of saying sorry to my Bapu. I have to take onus of all the crimes, including what happened to your family.”
Before the conversation began, Gandhi gifted Haasan a photo taken by his nephew and Priyanka Gandhi Vadra’s son, Raihan Vadra.
The picture was of a tiger drinking water while looking straight at the camera.
“This is a way of saying that you’re a great Indian and you’re a great Tamil and we’re proud of you”, Gandhi told Haasan.
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