Should be informed on critical issues: Rahul defends meet with Chinese envoy
New Delhi: Congress Vice-President Rahul Gandhi on Monday defended his meeting with Chinese envoy Luo Zhaohui, saying his job requires him to be informed on critical issues.
The Congress had earlier on Monday claimed that the two did not meet, however, about six hours later it did a major flip-flop and said that not only did Rahul meet Luo, but the Bhutanese envoy as well.
Later, Rahul took to Twitter to defend his meeting with the Chinese envoy and said, “It is my job to be informed on critical issues. I met the Chinese Ambassador, Ex-NSA, Congress leaders from NE & the Bhutanese Ambassador”.
It is my job to be informed on critical issues. I met the Chinese Ambassador, Ex-NSA, Congress leaders from NE & the Bhutanese Ambassador
— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) July 10, 2017
“If Govt is so concerned abt me meeting an Amb,they shld explain why 3Ministers are availing Chinese hospitality while the border issue is on,” he tweeted along with a screenshot of an article about three BJP ministers’ visit to China.
If Govt is so concerned abt me meeting an Amb,they shld explain why 3Ministers are availing Chinese hospitality while the border issue is on pic.twitter.com/4FCuu9SiAe
— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) July 10, 2017
He also took a pot shot at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2014. “And for the record I am not the guy sitting on the swing while a thousand Chinese troops had physically entered India,” he tweeted.
And for the record I am not the guy sitting on the swing while a thousand Chinese troops had physically entered India pic.twitter.com/THG4sULJJC
— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) July 10, 2017
Earlier on Monday, the Chinese Embassy in Delhi first posted and later removed a statement on its website saying that the two met after the Congress denied it as "fake news".
Surjewala, in a series of tweets, said some news channels were running "fake news" on Rahul's alleged meeting with the Chinese Ambassador.
"A wanting to be 'Bhakt' channel will not question 3 Union Ministers visiting China or PM's bonhomie & praise at G20 yet run fake news!
This comes amid a lengthy standoff between the Armies of the two countries on Line of Actual Control adjoining Sikkim on India's eastern border.
New Delhi has expressed its serious apprehensions over Beijing constructing a road in the Sikkim sector of the LAC.
India claims Sikkim border as part of its territory, while China has said that the area falls on their side as per the 1890 treaty signed between British and China.
Consequently, China suspended the annual Kailash Manasarovar yatra and conceded that the decision to suspend the pilgrimage was due to the border scuffle.
It also alleged that the Indian troops had crossed the Sikkim sector of the Indo-China border. Beijing has accused New Delhi of violating a convention signed in 1890 between Britain and China relating to Sikkim and Tibet.
