Focus on handling row with China, COVID-19: Sena to Centre

The Shiv Sena on Tuesday urged the centre to focus on handling the row with China and the coronavirus crisis, rather than indulging in war of words with opposition parties. The party also said that the ruling party considers targeting Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, and the Congress party more important than giving a befitting reply to China.

Mumbai: The Shiv Sena on Tuesday said people were fed up of the war of words between the BJP and Congress over the border standoff with China, and the government should focus on handling the row with the neighbouring country and the coronavirus crisis.

An editorial in Sena mouthpiece 'Saamana' said, "China has been adamant and will never change", and the need is to forget the past, tackle the fresh crisis and create a new future for the country.

The tension between the two sides escalated after the Galwan Valley clashes on June 15 that left 20 Indian soldiers dead.

Referring to Union Home Minister Amit Shah's comments that the country will win battles against COVID-19 and the border row with China under Prime Minister Narendra Modi's leadership, the Sena said, "The government should focus on these two battles and not on the opposition party. There is no need to be rattled by questions raised by the opposition party."

Highlighting the statement of a Congress MLA from Rajasthan, in which he demanded to stop the mobile caller tune carrying the message on the need to fight the COVID-19 pandemic and not the patient, it said, "Just like that, somebody should start a caller tune in Delhi that we need to fight China and not political opponents of the government."

"Just like we are bored of the calling tune on coronavirus, we are fed up of the BJP-Congress fight and feel the caller tune needs to change," the Marathi daily said.

"China is intruding in the Galwan valley and making unauthorised constructions. But, instead of giving a befitting reply to China, the ruling party is targeting Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi and the Congress party, it said.

"The BJP is saying China gave funds to the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and wants know what is the relation between China and the Congress. The Congress has hit back saying Chinese companies have donated to the PM CARES Fund. China is erecting bunkers and tents on the borders and the BJP-Congress war is going on every day," it said.

It said the "pro-BJP social media" was saying NCP chief Sharad Pawar's comment, that there should be no politics over China issue, was a barb at the Congress and Rahul Gandhi.

The Sena said the barb may also be aimed at the ruling party.

"Who is indulging in politics? Rahul Gandhi's questions are not just bubbles in water. Perhaps, Sharad Pawar also has the same queries. If China hasn't intruded on our land, why were the 20 soldiers martyred," it asked.

On the BJP being prepared for a debate on China (from 1962 onwards), the Sena said, "Forget the past. We need to tackle the fresh crisis in the China case and create a new future for our country. Whether Pandit Nehru or Modi, China has been adamant and will never change."

"Pandit Nehru may have made a mistake. But why are you still crawling in 1962? This is 2020," the Sena added.

"Nehru was influenced by a different kind of idealism and had blind faith in 'Satyamev Jayate', which is an integral part of the national emblem, while Modi says no matter how grave the crisis, he believes in selfless service," it said.

PTI