Rahul Gandhi claims China occupied 4,000 sq km of Indian territory, BJP refutes

New Delhi: Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday claimed that China has occupied 4,000 square kilometers of Indian territory and questioned the government’s stance on the issue. He also warned that the reciprocal tax imposed by the US on India would severely impact the Indian economy.

Speaking during Zero Hour in the Lok Sabha, Gandhi criticized the government’s decision to celebrate 75 years of diplomatic ties with China. “China is sitting on 4,000 square kilometers of our territory. I was surprised to see our Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri cutting a cake with the Chinese ambassador. What exactly is happening with this occupied land?” he asked.

Referring to the 2020 Galwan clash, in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed, Gandhi questioned the government’s response. “His martyrdom is being celebrated by cutting a cake. We are not against normalcy, but first, we should get our land back,” he said, adding that reports of the Prime Minister and the President writing to Chinese authorities had emerged from the Chinese ambassador, not the Indian government.

Gandhi also criticized India’s foreign policy, citing the US decision to impose retaliatory tariffs on Indian goods. “Foreign policy is about managing relationships. On one hand, you have given 4,000 square kilometers of land to China, and on the other, our ally, the US, has imposed tariffs on us,” he said.

The BJP dismissed Gandhi’s claims, asserting that “not an inch of land” had been given to China under its rule. The party accused the Congress of allowing Chinese incursions in the past.