New Delhi, Jul 6 (UNI) Responding to charges by BJP president JP Nadda that Congress leader Rahul Gandhi is demoralising the armed forces by continuously attacking the government on its handling of the India China border standoff, the Congress on Monday said that it is the Modi government that has sought to demoralize the armed forces by cutting the Dearness Allowance of the armed force personnel and ignoring the recommendations of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence to increase expenditure in the Defence sector.
In a series of tweets, AICC media incharge Randeep Surjewala said, 'Dear Nadda Ji, Daily insidious comments are making you look like a poorer version of malicious BJP spokespersons. Had the BJP and Modi Govt spent its energy in fighting China and supporting our Armed Forces, you wouldn’t need to lie on Chinese transgressions to mislead the Nation.'
Accusing the Narendra Modi government of demoralizing the armed forces by cutting the Dearness allowance and ignoring recommendations of the standing committee on Defence to increase spending on Defence, Mr Surjewala said, 'Dear Nadda Ji, Pl answer-:
Is cutting ₹11,000 CR of ‘Dearness Pay’ of 15 Lakh Members of our Armed Forces & 26 Lakh Military Pensioners (from 1/1/2020 to 30/6/2021) Modi Govt’s way of encouragement or a Machiavellian hit job?
Did the Estimates Committee of Parliament headed by Ex BJP President, MM Joshi submit a report citing that Defence Expenditure was ‘lowest since 1962’ - lowest in 56 yrs?
Is this Modi Govt’s way of enhancing the morale of our Armed Forces?
Did the Standing Commiittee on Defence headed by Gen BC Khanduri not hold that 68 per cent of our ‘equipment is vintage’ and there are insufficient resources for ‘construction of strategic roads on China Border’?
Did Modi Govt listen to Defence Committee?
Didn’t the Standing Committee on Defence headed by Gen. Khanduri also hold that despite PMO’s intervention having been sought on allocation of adequate Defence Budget, PMO chose not to act?
Is this the PM’s concern for defence preparedness?'
In this context, Mr Surjewala also questioned the decision of the Modi government to shelve the creation of 90,000 strong “Mountain Strike Corps” to be carved out as a counter measure to Chinese build up on our borders.
'Dear Nadda Ji,
Pl answer-
Why did Modi Govt shelve the creation of 90,000 strong “Mountain Strike Corps” to be carved out as a counter measure to Chinese build up on our borders?
Why did you deny our Armed Forces this strategic fire power to take on the Chinese forces?,' he asked.
'Why has China committed 2,264 transgressions on our territory since 2015 under Modi Govt (Year 2015-428, Yr 2016-296, Yr 2017-473, Yr 2018-404, Yr 2019-663)?
Why did the BJP Govt not act upon this pre-meditated Chinese design?,' Mr Surjewala asked.
The remarks by Mr Surjewala came after BJP president JP Nadda targeted Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for skipping all meetings of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence, of which he’s a member.
Mr Nadda said while Rahul Gandhi does not attend a single meeting of the Standing Committee on Defence, he continues to do what responsible opposition leader should not do -- "question the valour of the armed forces and demoralise the nation".
In a tweet, JP Nadda said, "Rahul Gandhi does not attend a single meeting of Standing Committee on Defence. But sadly, he continues to demoralise the nation, question the valour of our armed forces and do everything that a responsible opposition leader should not do."
'Rahul Gandhi belongs to that glorious dynastic tradition where as far as defence is concerned, committees don't matter, only commissions do. Congress has many deserving members who understand parliamentary matters but one dynasty will never let such leaders grow. Really sad.
Rahul has been attacking the NDA government for it failure to stop Chinese incursion on Indian territory and has charged Prime Minister Narendra Modi of misleading the nation on the issue.
UNI AR SHK1815