The Congress on Monday launched a vitriolic attack on the government over Chinese transgressions into India, with Rahul Gandhi saying that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was "afraid" of China and hiding the truth from the people. Congress communications in-charge Jairam Ramesh, on the other hand, used the abbreviation of an iconic Bollywood movie, DDLJ, to take a swipe at PM Modi's China strategy. 


Rahul Gandhi said that "increasing Chinese infiltration" into Indian territory and the prime minister's "silence" on it were "very harmful" for the country.


"Some truths about the prime minister: 1. Is afraid of China. 2. Hides the truth from the public. 3. Just protects his own image. 4. Lowers the morale of the Army. 5. Plays with the security of the country," Rahul Gandhi tweeted.



The Congress has been alleging that China continued to occupy Indian territory in eastern Ladakh and the government had done nothing to reclaim it.


Jairam Ramesh, Congress General Secretary and in-charge for communications, hit out at PM Modi over his "DDLJ policy with China" -- Deny, Distract, Lie, Justify.


"Deny -- China occupied our land, but the PM denied it. Distract -- Ministry of Defence's report on Chinese incursion removed. Lie -- No one has crossed our border, the biggest lie. Justify -- Promoted business instead of retaliation," Ramesh tweeted.



Congress spokesperson Gaurav Gogoi claimed that the recent talks between India's External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and the Chinese foreign minister had "failed" and did not yield the desired result of maintaining the status quo ante as in April 2020 at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh.


Gogoi also demanded a white paper on the issue, a two-day debate in Parliament and a dedicated briefing to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence.


"We demand that Prime Minister Modi takes the nation into confidence about the Chinese threat and take action by addressing a press conference by the prime minister, defence minister and external affairs minister to explain the current situation followed by a White Paper," PTI quoted Gogoi as syaing.


Gogoi also said "the prime minister should stop appeasing China to protect his image and should act boldly and sternly".


"More than two years after the border crisis with China began in eastern Ladakh, Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s strategy can be summed up with DDLJ: Deny, Distract, Lie, Justify," Gogoi said at the press conference.


India and China have engaged in 15 rounds of talks at the Corps Commander level and 10 rounds of talks at the Foreign Ministry level.


"However, during this period, China has cemented its control with an unprecedented military build-up in Aksai Chin most recently including 5G networks up to LAC, five new heliports, a large bridge across Pangong Tso and a notable increase in air activity," Gogoi further said. 


"This expansion is aimed at giving China the capability of quick escalation and rapid manoeuvre in eastern Ladakh. It is clear that the Chinese are being hyper-aggressive, while our leadership prefers to deceive the Indian people under its DDLJ strategy," Gogoi alleged.


(With inputs from PTI)