'Has Even Your Dog Died For India': Kharge Attacks BJP Over India-China Border Row

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge has hit out at the BJP-led government for refusing to allow a discussion on the India-China border issue in Parliament.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Monday questioned the BJP-led Centre’s intent on resolving the India-China border crisis. “Has even your dog died for the country,” Kharge questioned the BJP at a Bharat Jodo Yatra public meeting in Rajasthan’s Alwar. 

Kharge said that the Congress leaders sacrificed a lot for the country during India’s freedom struggle and helped it attain Independence. Referring to the recent clash between Indian and Chinese troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh's Tawang sector, he said that the BJP "talks like a lion outside the country but acts like a mouse within" as it is unable to confront China. 

"Still, they claim to be patriots and if we say something we are termed as deshdrohis (anti-nationals),” the Kharge said. He said under the BJP, border violence has becoming frequent and alleged that the Centre has been concealing facts. "Even after 20 of our soldiers were martyred at the border in Galwan Valley, Modi ji met the Chinese president 18 times. They held meetings and even had swings. After all this, why is it happening at the border with China?" 

“When we raised the India-China border issue, the BJP accused Rahul Gandhi of trying to break the country... On the other hand, BJP claims that no one can even look at us but border incidents are increasing every day,” Kharge said. 

He said that the Congress has been demanding a discussion on the border issue, but the BJP says “there is no need for one”. “We want the government to tell the people what the government is doing to rectify the situation. But the government is running away from talks,” he said. 

He said the Bharat Jodo Yatra is important as the BJP is dividing people on the basis of religion and language. “The BJP government only knows how to suppress the voices of the farmers and the poor. Inflation and unemployment are increasing at an alarming rate. Yet, the government is not doing anything because they don’t want youths to become empowered. The PM only knows event management and talks about handing out employment letters, but in reality, there are 30 lakh vacancies in the government sector,” Kharge said.