Kargil : Senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi today said that China had illegally occupied thousands of kilometers of Indian territory. He slams Prime Minister Narendra Modi for not speaking the truth and saying that no Indian land had been occupied by China.
He also offered floral tributes at the Kargil War Memorial, Dras.
Addressing a public meeting on the concluding day of his tour to Ladakh region, Mr Gandhi said, he had gone to Pangong lake in Ladakh. He said China has illegally occupied Indian land and the Prime Minister during a meeting of opposition parties’ denied it. The Prime Minister is not speaking the truth, he remarked, while adding, people of Ladakh know that China has illegally occupied Indian land.
Former Congress president profoundly thanked the people of Kargil for standing for the country whenever there was a need. He recalled how the people of this place had stood for the nation in 1999 during the Kargil War against Pakistan. For this, I thank you from the core of my heart.
Recalling his Bharat Jodo Yatra, the Congress MP said he had planned to conclude the Yatra in Ladakh. However, due to the cold weather he was advised not to travel to Ladakh that time. He said, during his recent visit he has covered each and every corner of Ladakh and found the people here very warm and friendly.
Expressing his profound gratitude to people of Ladakh region, Mr Gandhi said, he had found Ladakh perhaps to be the most beautiful place in India and he will visit it again.
Mr Gandhi said, like the Congress party, which believed in harmony and brotherhood, people of Ladakh also believed in the same ideology. Narrating his experiences with the people who have come from different parts of the country to work in Ladakh, he said, he was told that people of Ladakh were so warm that they felt at home in this place. He recalled the popular slogan of the Bharat Jodo Yatra, “Nafrat Ke Bazaar mein, Mohabbat ki Dukan”, saying people here were full of love and affection.
Referring to the demands of the local people which included raising the political voice, addressing the issue of unemployment, poor communication system and operation of flights from Kargil airport, Mr Gandhi said he will raise their voice in the next session of the parliament.
Similarly, he added, the issues related to Ladakh in particular will also be raised in the parliament. He said the apex decision making body of the Congress party had endorsed various demands of Ladakh and Kargil regions.
Mr. Gandhi said the Congress party stood by the people of the region and will ensure that their land is protected. He said, since Ladakh region was rich in natural resources and there was a great potential for solar energy, the BJP wanted to take away the land and give it to Adanis. But, he assured, the Congress party will not let the BJP do that.
AICC Incharge J&K affairs & party MP Ms Rajani Patil and local Congress leaders were also present on the occasion.
