New Delhi: Amid an increasing number of questions about the India-China tensions at the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh, the ruling BJP has decided to hit back at the critics of the Narendra Modi government in general, and former Congress president Rahul Gandhi in particular.
In the last couple of days, a gamut of BJP leaders including Union Home Minister Amit Shah, party chief J.P. Nadda, its spokespersons and IT head Amit Malviya, have slammed Gandhi and blamed his Congress for committing many historical wrongs vis-à-vis India’s relationship with China.
The counter-attacks increased after Gandhi punned on the PM’s name in a tweet Sunday, calling him ‘Surender Modi’ for ‘surrendering’ territory to China. The tweet also featured a Japan Times article titled ‘India’s appeasement policy towards China unravels’.
Narendra Modi
Is actually
Surender Modihttps://t.co/PbQ44skm0Z
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 21, 2020
The previous day, Gandhi had tweeted about “surrendering Indian territory” and raised two questions.
PM has surrendered Indian territory to Chinese aggression.
If the land was Chinese:
1. Why were our soldiers killed?
2. Where were they killed? pic.twitter.com/vZFVqtu3fD
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 20, 2020
Also read: No one entered Indian territory, no border posts were occupied: PM at all-party meet on China
Concerted backlash
Gandhi’s constant questioning and criticism of the Modi government has received flak from many BJP leaders, but the ‘Surender Modi’ tweet invited a fresh backlash.
BJP spokesperson Shahnawaz Hussain told ThePrint that “even enemy countries have not used such language for Modi ji. Rahul Gandhi has lost all decency, he should apologise immediately”.
Another spokesperson, Gaurav Bhatia, called the Congress leader “traitor Gandhi” on a TV channel.
“The PM spoke strongly, delivered a strong message to China… Every inch of our land is protected, the armed forces have been given a free hand. The problem is with a 50-year-old amateur child. He does not believe the Indian Army, he does not believe the Indian Prime Minister, he does not have faith in anybody,” Bhatia said.
“I say Rahul Gandhi is traitor Gandhi. Any citizen who weakens his own country and strengthens the enemy country — and China is an enemy country — he is a traitor, and he has proved it.”
Rajya Sabha MP Rajeev Chandrasekhar poked fun at Gandhi for “achieving his life goal of being an online troll”.
This tweet refutes widely held view that this young dynast leader has achieved nothing in 50 yrs of his life.
He has achieved ! His life goal of being a Online troll 😁🕺🏻
Maybe in 6th decade of his life, he may expand his achievements beyond this big one ! https://t.co/SWv89yvf15
— Rajeev Chandrasekhar 🇮🇳 (@rajeev_mp) June 21, 2020
Assam cabinet minister Himanta Biswa Sarma also weighed in.
Mr @RahulGandhi -You're so exasperated you can't even spell correctly!
And surrendering has been hallmark of Gandhi-Nehru family. In 1962, Assam was almost given away by Pt Nehru. When Chinese Army had captured Bomdila, Nehru said, "My heart goes out to people of Assam." Shame https://t.co/Tc13FuVgcc
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) June 21, 2020
Meanwhile, the BJP’s IT head Amit Malviya made insinuations about Gandhi in his tweets.
Rahul Gandhi’s constant attack on the PM is nothing but an attempt to whitewash sins of Nehru, his great grandfather, who surrendered kms of Indian territory to China.
He earlier tried salvaging his father’s Bofors legacy by questioning the Rafale deal.
But India knows better!
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) June 21, 2020
China has blocked the official website of Narendra Modi using the Great Firewall, but has allowed Rahul Gandhi’s website. Why would they do it?
Is this arrangement part of the MoU that Rahul Gandhi had signed, in the presence of Sonia Gandhi, with the CPC? https://t.co/p3wqgPZKN2
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) June 20, 2020
Malviya also slammed retired Army personnel who have been critical of the Modi government, like journalist Col. Ajai Shukla and columnist Lt Gen H.S. Panag.
From Col (Retd) Ajai Shukla to Lt General (Retd) HS Panag, the Congress has lapped up assorted discordant voices from the Army post their retirement. But they hardly listen to Former Army Chiefs like JJ Singh and VK Singh.
Don’t miss the million dollar definition of an ‘expert’! pic.twitter.com/VG1tXsn8zw
— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) June 20, 2020
Ajai Shukla, a Gandhi family lackey, masquerading as defence expert on TV, has been running a vicious propaganda against India during the recent face off in Eastern Ladhak.
He, perhaps on instruction from his handlers in Congress, seems to be blaming PM Modi for what Nehru did! pic.twitter.com/p20Bc8xkQy— Amit Malviya (@amitmalviya) June 20, 2020
Also read: Congress and BJP both want action against China incursions, but only when in opposition
‘Congress demoralising Army’
BJP chief Nadda, while addressing party workers in Rajasthan and Telangana Saturday, had accused the Congress of being irresponsible, and said its leaders were demoralising the nation and soldiers.
“Congress leaders are tweeting to demoralise the Army every day. Why is the Congress party showing off its intelligence? He (Rahul Gandhi) asked why the soldiers went there unarmed… Don’t you know international law? Why are you exposing the limits of your knowledge? You have caught on to an issue that could demoralise the soldiers,” Nadda said, adding this was “not the culture of an Indian family”.
Home Minister Amit Shah, meanwhile, quoted the father of an injured solider who had criticised Gandhi.
“A brave armyman’s father speaks and he has a very clear message for Mr. Rahul Gandhi. At a time when the entire nation is united, Mr. Rahul Gandhi should also rise above petty politics and stand in solidarity with national interest,” he tweeted.
A brave armyman’s father speaks and he has a very clear message for Mr. Rahul Gandhi.
At a time when the entire nation is united, Mr. Rahul Gandhi should also rise above petty politics and stand in solidarity with national interest. https://t.co/BwT4O0JOvl
— Amit Shah (@AmitShah) June 20, 2020
BJP general secretary Ram Madhav, in a TV interview, blamed Congress prime ministers from Jawaharlal Nehru to P.V. Narasimha Rao for their “blunders” and asked the Congress why it was asking the government to share strategic information with journalists and opposition parties.
BJP organisation secretary B.L. Santhosh has also been tweeting against the Congress’ questioning the last few days.
Looks like @INCIndia has become desperate . Acc to media reports Cong President Smt Sonia Gandhi is demonstrating to the world what her Party stands for … anti Govt , anti forces , anti soldiers & above all anti national . She needs operational details at such times .
— B L Santhosh (@blsanthosh) June 19, 2020
Multiple sources point that there was large scale losses to PLA due to exemplary valour exhibited by Bihar regiment .It’s for PLA & Chinese administration to declare & admit. To state that only Indian army suffered is a big disservice to our soldiers .#NationWithArmyAndNamo
— B L Santhosh (@blsanthosh) June 20, 2020
Be it Road building , firmness at borders , keeping economic interests of the nation paramount ,equipping soldiers to max ,strategic weapon procurements have been taken up . The confidence level of troops is at its max now due to total support from Govt . #NationWithArmyAndNamo
— B L Santhosh (@blsanthosh) June 20, 2020
Will get more aggressive
A senior BJP leader told ThePrint that in the coming days, the BJP’s counter-attack against critics will get more aggressive.
“In the all-party meeting, everyone except the Congress supported PM Modi after listening to his detailed presentation. The Congress wants to score political points at this juncture, and that is unacceptable,” the leader said.
“We can’t concede political space. People trust the PM, and we will establish that Rahul is not standing with the Army and the country in this time of crisis,” the leader added.
Also read: India’s Socialist leaders warned China was bigger enemy, but both BJP and Congress ignored
Like everything else the freedom of expression is allowed to be taken to extreme. Well in democracy if that is what the majority wants, it is perfectly ok.
The problem however comes when the platforms are offered selectively.
When retired servicemen comment in a particular way they leave a question of their integrity open while they were serving.
When politicians who have held the highest offices with privileged information comment in a particular way they leave a question of their integrity open while they were serving.
They are the beneficiaries of the screwed up investigation and judicial system so carefully designed that unless one carries 10000 cr. worth of loot on scooters one will not see the jail from in side.
Who should or should not be taken seriously is the call of the people offering the platform.
Rahul Baabaa Reminds Me Of Kids Who Fly Paper Aeroplanes.With Immense Pleasure.Shudder To Think.What Will Happen To The Country If This Guy Becomes An Accidental PM.
Someone should tell the middle aged dynast that people who in our country vote do not read twitter messages or watch webinars in English.
The BJP and it’s supporters seem to be happy fighting Rahul Gandhi rather than Xi. Easy electoral victories seem have eroded the BJP’s fighting capabilities. They need so many men to attack one RG. Meanwhile China is chipping away at our borders and the only thing this govt can say is “no one has entered anyone’s borders”. The BJP may win many elections under Modi by attacking RG and trying to blame him for all faults of every PM from Nehru to MMS but that is not going to improve our economic condition nor make Xi leave Indian territory. The more successful BJP is at winning elections, the more Indian nation seems to lose.
It is an indisputable fact that Sonia had encroached and legitimized her stay marrying Rajiv. Hence Amul Baby’s blood is not with Indian DNA.
Better they focus on their motherland and grateful to all natives.
Errr, this is a comment validated by the moderator? should comments not be in some kind of understandable language?
In crisis situations, actions of Political Paties /Press of all hues are expected to be contrbuting to strengthen a nation’s resolve to face the crisis . Alas, some are trying to fish in troubled waters,without realising the consequences. Is it because of lack of Statesmanship, or ill- advised / immature / leadership?
Rahul,If you really love this nation,tell one word to recover the land occupied in Kashmir by Pakistan to Modi and see what is happening.You traitor family cheated the entire Nation tiil date
It was well known that Rahul Gandhi is a Duffer. But India was indulging him as he is a “Gandhi scion”. His stupid comments entertained us all on the evening news.
But Duffer has now become Dangerous. He is Chinese, a closet Pakistani and anti-national. The Gandhis should now be called out for what they are – agents of China & Pakistan. Termites free riding on the benevolence of the Indian taxpayer.
Congratulations to Rahul Gandhi for managing to needle the bjp IT ecosystem so effectively ! The more they attack, the more we know it hit home.
Please let us know
Why were our soldiers killed
Where were they killed
The Nehru-Gandhis were always anti-national. They were a curse on Indians. Rahul is the last of the them.
Irrespective of which party rules at the Centre, Congress or BJP surrendering to China has been a common feature.
What about Maneka Gandhi and her son Varun Gandhi Mr Vish ? Forgotten that the BJP too runs on dynasties?
This govt doesn’t like uneasy questions. It is the duty of the govt to take into confidence everyone if he wants others not to question him. He wants credit if things are right but otherwise they don’t even hesitate to make others scape goat. Each and every individual of this country needs to know as the country just cannot afford to lose soldiers for the failures of the govt. They are shameless and will use this to take advantage in bihar elections. Such is the attitude of this govt can go to any extent to grab power
BJP led Government is like Vedas the unquestionable authority .None of them to be questioned whatever crime they commit . They can take away the RBI money and spend as they wish .Giving the share of GST amount to the states as per their whims and fancies . They collect money under PM care but no one should ask for the account . If any body asks anything they have got people to spitthe dirty words.They conveniently do everything to make the people understand that Gandhiji and Nehruji did nothing ingetting freedom. They will make China to make Patel’s statue and order China to make bullet proof jackets for our soldiers. But as Indians we should not raise our doubts. God’mill grind slow but sure.
In 2008 communist party of china and Congress entered into a friendship agreement. RG is bound by that agreement. Do not blame or criticise him. He may be following some secrate clauses to support them . Only knowledge congress leaders may shed some light on this.