Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has come out with a video in which he is seen pointing out the factors that led to China’s incursion into Indian territory last month.
In the video, which runs for three minutes and 38 seconds, Rahul answers why the Chinese chose this particular time to move against India in such an aggressive manner.
“What is about this moment in time that has allowed the Chinese to have the confidence that they can move against a country like India,” Rahul says before getting into the details of the reasons that led to border clashes between the two countries.
Speaking about the foreign policy, Rahul said that in the last six year, India has been “disturbed and disrupted” when it came to relationships with its neighbours.
Adding that countries are protected by a confluence of forces, Rahul talked about the India’s relationship with other countries. “Our relationship with the outside world used to be with multiple countries. We had a relationship with America—strategic relationship with America, that is very important. We had a relationship with Russia, we had a relationship with Europe. And these countries used to help us manoeuvre in the world. Today, our relationship has become transactional.”
“We have a transactional relationship with the United States,. We have disturbed our relationship with the Russians.”
Rahul said that earlier, Nepal had been a friend to India, along with Bhutan and Sri Lanka; and except for Pakistan, these neighbouring countries saw itself being partnered with India.
“Today, Nepal is angry with us. If you go to Nepal and speak to the Nepali people, they are furious with what has happened. Sri Lankans have given their port to the Chinese; Maldives is disturbed; Bhutan is disturbed. We have disrupted our foreign partners,” Rahul said.
On the economy, Rahul said that India used to be proud and would boast about its economy to the rest of the world. However, the country is witnessing the “worst economic growth in 50 years”, and that it was an absolute disaster. He also pointed out that the unemployment rate was highest in 40-50 years, and that India’s strengths have now becomes its weaknesses.
Rahul added that the government was told that India was “becoming vulnerable” and it must act taking into account all factors.
The government was told to immediately inject money into the economy in order to protect the small and medium businesses. But they refused to do so, Rahul added.
“Today you have a country which is economically in trouble; in trouble as far as foreign policy is concerned; in trouble with its neighbours. And that’s why the Chinese decided that this is possibly the best time to act. And that is why they have acted,” he concluded.
The video was shared on the Twitter handles of Rahul Gandhi and the Indian National Congress.