Rahul Gandhi dubs PM 'Surender Modi'; BJP MP calls it 'Chinese propaganda'

Amid ongoing India-China border tensions, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi took a jibe at PM Narendra Modi, dubbing him 'Surender Modi'. He tweeted: "Narendra Modi Is actually Surender Modi." He had tagged an article in Japan Times that accused the prime minister of pandering to China.

In response, BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi accused Rahul Gandhi's Twitter handle of spreading 'Chinese propaganda'. "Sometimes what you see is not what is, but what about what is but do not see? Twitter banned many Chinese propaganda handles but missed out on the biggest Chinese propaganda handle of all. Chinese social media has banned PM Modi’s handle & has allowed this handle."

The Congress on Saturday had asked PM Modi to follow 'raj dharma' and rise to the challenge of protecting the territorial integrity of the country, and clarify to China that Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh "is, was and will always be" an integral part of India.

The opposition party also accused the prime minister's office (PMO) of making a "lame attempt to obfuscate the truth" and belittling the gravity of the situation along the LAC after it issued a clarification on PM Modi's comments that no one entered Indian territory.

"After the prime minister's statement yesterday, China has dared to claim the entire Galwan Valley as its own. Galwan Valley is Indian territory and it will remain an integral part of Mother India. We urge the PM not to fear and give China a befitting reply by clarifying to it once and for all that Galwan Valley is and will always be an inseparable part of India," the Congress' chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said in a video message.

Earlier in the day, he said the Prime Minister's Office and the government need to clearly state their position after the PMO described as "mischievous interpretation" the criticism of the prime minister's remarks at the all-party meeting that no one has entered Indian territory or captured any military post while referring to the Galwan Valley clash in eastern Ladakh.

"If Chinese troops are present in Galwan valley, does it not amount to intrusion into and occupation of Indian territory? Also, why is the government silent on intrusions in the Pangong Tso area," Surjewala asked in a statement.