New Delhi, Dec 19, 2022: Foreign minister S Jaishankar in his address in Parliament objected to the Congress MP Rahul Gandhi’s use of the word “pitai (beating)” in the context of stand-off between Indian and Chinese troops in Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang sector.
Mr Gandhi had, while criticising Prime Minister Modi on alleged Chinese advances in Arunachal Pradesh, had said, “hamare jawanon ki pitai ho rahi hai (our troops are being beaten up)”.
“We have no problems with respect to political differences, even if there is political criticism. I have heard sometimes that my own understanding needs to be deepened. When I see who is giving the advice, I can only bow and respect, but I think we shouldn’t directly or indirectly criticise our jawans. Our jawans are standing in Yangtse at 13,000 feet, defending our border, they do not deserve to be associated with the word ‘pitai’. The word ‘pitai’ shouldn’t be employed for our jawans,” Mr Jaishankar said.
Following the remarks made by Rahul Gandhi in the Jaipur leg of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, wherein he accused the government of downplaying the threat posed by China, saying Beijing was taking all necessary steps for war but Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s administration was “sleeping”, the BJP had kicked off a fierce attack in return, taking issue with his comment that Chinese soldiers are beating up Indian Army personnel in Arunachal Pradesh. BJP leaders demanded that Congress should immediately expel him from the party.
Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia had further stated that if Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge is not “remote-controlled” and if the opposition party stands with the country, then Rahul Gandhi should be expelled for his comments, which “belittle” India and break the morale of its armed forces.
