Congress vs BJP: War of words over China's Ladakh moves sparks Nehru-era blame game

Beijing announced two new counties, parts of which fall in the Himalayan region of Ladakh.

A day after Congress leader Pramod Tiwari criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi for perceived inaction following China's establishment of two new counties in the disputed region of Ladakh, the BJP slammed the party for attempting to hold PM Modi accountable for issues rooted in the tenure of former Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru.

"They are building counties on land which is India's... our PM has already given a clean chit to it even if no one came or travelled around. Why is the PM scared of China? When we want to raise this in Parliament, you don't even answer the questions... and even if you answer it, it is incomplete," Tiwari stated.

This statement comes in response to China's recent administrative changes, which include the establishment of two counties in areas that India claims as its sovereign territory. The Ministry of External Affairs launched a strong protest, claiming that India has never acknowledged China's "illegal occupation."

Earlier, Congress leader Pawan Khera slammed the government's attitude and urged the Centre to address the matter seriously. Khera stated that the "perfunctory objection" expressed by the Ministry of External Affairs was "notwithstanding." He encouraged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to consider the matter, saying, "Casual objection by EAM would not work." Khera claimed that China's confidence in making such steps comes from PM Modi's "clean chit".

In response, Amit Malviya, BJP's IT cell head, accused the Congress of dishonesty in its criticism of the Modi government, pointing out that all the territorial losses occurred under Nehru’s leadership. “The Congress has no right to question the government on Chinese issues when their own leadership failed to defend Indian territory during Nehru’s tenure,” he said.

Further in his post, he gave me the historical context of China's acquisition. It highlighted that the territories renamed by China are part of Aksai Chin, an area it occupied by 1962.

According to the BJP, He’an County refers to Aksai Chin, linked to the G219 Highway, which China constructed in 1957 and was acknowledged by Nehru in Parliament in 1959. Hekang County represents adjacent territories taken over during the same period. Key landmarks in the newly renamed He’an County include Haji Langar, which was occupied by China in 1959 after an Indian patrol was detained there a year earlier.

Additionally, Qizil Jilga and Chung Tash were both captured by China during the 1962 war. Dehra Compas was seized in 1961. Whereas, Shamal Lungpa was occupied in October 1959, close to where an Indian patrol was attacked the same year.

"Congress cannot get away with such lies, even if Rahul Gandhi thinks otherwise," said Malviya.

China's renaming of territories has been interpreted as asserting its control over disputed areas. However, the BJP emphasized that the areas in question were lost decades ago due to Nehru’s policies, reinforcing their stance that the Congress should own up to its mistakes.