"Central govt surrendered before China": Saurabh Bharadwaj on Kharge's 'Modi Ki Chinese Guarantee' remark

New Delhi [India], July 8 : Reacting to Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge's 'Modi Ki Chinese Guarantee' remark, Aam Aadmi Party leader Saurabh Bharadwaj on Monday claimed that the Indian Army is short of 3 lakh soldiers in the last 5 years adding that the central government has surrendered before China.
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday attacked the Central government on the issue of Chinese incursion into Indian territory and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government of "failure to maintain the status quo ante" at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) adding that "Modi Ki Chinese Guarantee continues as his government wears 56-inch big Chinese Blinkers on its Laal Aankh."
"Not the Indian Government but a US-based satellite imaging company revealed that China has crossed the LAC and come in 5km of our territory. It is making bunkers near the Pangong Lake and deployed its Army in the region," Bharadwaj told ANI.
"On the other hand, India has stopped recruitment in the Army after 2019-20. Every year 60000 soldiers retire, which makes the Indian Army short of 3 lakh soldiers in the last 5 years. The central government has surrendered before China. China is dependent on India for most of its trade. But we are unable to stop our trade with China," he added.
Kharge asked how can China build a military base near Pangong Tso, on land that was under Indian occupation until May 2020.
"Even as we enter the 5th year of the "CLEAN CHIT" given by PM Narendra Modi on Galwan, where our brave soldiers sacrificed their lives, China continues to impinge upon our territorial integrity!" Kharge posted on X.
Alongside his post, the Congress chief shared a media report that claimed the Chinese army digging in close to Pangong Lake in eastern Ladakh.
Attacking PM Modi, Kharge said, "10th April 2024 - PM Modi in an interview to foreign press failed to put forth India's case strongly at the global stage. 13th April 2024 - EAM's statement that "China has not occupied any of our land" exposed Modi government's Meek Policy towards China! 4th July 2024 - Even though EAM meets his Chinese counterpart and says "Respecting the LAC and ensuring peace and tranquillity in the border areas is essential."
Kharge further said that China continues to be "belligerent on occupying our territory and constructing a military base at Sirijap", reportedly a land that was under Indian control.
"Modi Government is responsible for not maintaining the status quo ante at the LAC. We have lost possession of 26 Patrolling Points (PP) out of 65 including points in Depsang Plains, Demchok and Gogra Hot Springs area. 'Modi Ki Chinese Guarantee' continues as his government wears 56-inch big Chinese Blinkers on its Laal Aankh!" he said.
He further said that Congress once again reiterated its demand to take the nation into confidence on the border situation at LAC.
"We stand shoulder to shoulder with our valiant soldiers," he said.