Hours after reports emerged that Congress president Rahul Gandhi has left for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra via China, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) launched a scathing attack on him and demanded explanations over speaking like a spokesperson of the neighbouring country during his recent Europe tour.
"Ye rishta kya kehlata hai?" BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said mockingly and added that Rahul Gandhi must explain his 'love' for China. We are not questioning his (Rahul Gandhi's) faith but the special relationship that Rahul Gandhi and his family has with China must be explained. During the Beijing Olympics, Sonia Gandhi, Priyanka and Robert Vadra were special invitees, Patra said.
"Rahul Gandhi has left for China via Nepal. Rahulji has an obsession for China. Why is it that Mr. Gandhi always wants to get a Chinese view on everything but does not want to have an Indian perspective?" Patra asked.
"Why is Mr. Rahul gandhi holding the brief of China across the globe? He advertises china as if he is the advertising man hired to advertise China," he went on to add.
The BJP spokesperson also questioned why the Chinese envoy went to see-off Rahul Gandhi at the Delhi airport when he was leaving for Kailash Mansarovar Yatra.
"Are you Rahul Gandhi or Chinese Gandhi? He must reveal who all he will be meeting in China," Patra said, adding that the Congress president had held a secret meeting with Chinese envoy when Indian and Chinese forces were locked in an intense face-off in Doklam.
Patra also slammed Rahul Gandhi for describing Doklam stand-off as 'Dhokhalam'. "During his recent Europe tour, he was asked about the Doklam issue. Rahul Gandhi refused to comment saying he has no knowledge about it. When you had no knowledge about it then how did you made such a serious allegation on the government?" Patra asked.
The BJP also played a short video clip showcasing Rahul Gandhi's 'love' for China. Here's the video:
Congress responds to BJP's attack
Responding to BJP's attack, senior Congress leader and party spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said that the ruling party was trying to create trouble for Rahul Gandhi's pilgrimage.
"Why is the BJP and PM Modi so perturbed by Rahul Gandhi's trip to Kailash Mansarovar?" Surjewala asked.
"Do they not know where Kailash Mansarovar is? Do they not know that Kailash Mansarovar is in the autonomous region of Tibet, China?" he said.
Addressing the International Institute of Strategic Studies during his recent London visit, Rahul Gandhi had said that the Doklam standoff with China was not an "isolated issue" but part of a "sequence of events" and if Prime Minister Narendra Modi was carefully watching the process, India could have stopped it.
"Prime Minister is episodic. He views Doklam as an event Doklam is not an isolated issue. It was a part of a sequence of events, it was a process. If he (PM Modi) was carefully watching the process, he could've stopped it," Gandhi said at the London-based think-tank.
WATCH: BJP questions Rahul Gandhi's China 'love'
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