New Delhi: In yet another attack on the Prime Minister Modi-led government over the Galwan face-off, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday said the government was "fast asleep" and the price was paid by the martyred troops.
Quoting a report where Minister of State (MoS) for Defence Shripad Naik said that the violent face-off in Galwan Valley was a pre-planned attack by China, Gandhi tweeted a three-point attack at the government.
"It is now crystal clear that: 1. The Chinese attack in Galwan was pre-planned. 2. GOI was fast asleep and denied the problem. 3. The price was paid by our martyred Jawans," tweeted Gandhi.
Gandhi's latest attack comes just a day after he had claimed that the Indian troops were unarmed. Trying to corner him over the claim, however, the Government and the BJP seemingly contradicted each other.
The political row erupted after Rahul Gandhi said that China has committed a 'big mistake' by killing Indian soldiers and then trained his guns at the BJP government questioning who sent the soldiers "unarmed" and also asked who was responsible for their deaths.
Read: Who sent unarmed Indian soldiers towards danger: Rahul
Following his remarks, Union External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar clarified that the soldiers did in fact carry arms.
"Let us get the facts straight. All troops on border duty always carry arms, especially when leaving posts. Those at Galwan on June 15 did so. Longstanding practice (as per 1996 and 2005 agreements) not to use firearms during faceoffs," Jaishankar tweeted.
However, BJP national Vice President Baijayant Jay Panda soon contradicted the External Affairs Minister.
Read: Govt, BJP contradict each other while trying to corner Rahul on China clash
"Who sent out Indian troops without weapons? The answer is an agreement barring weapons within 2 km of Line of Actual Control (LAC) signed by an Indian government-backed by your (Congress) party! What to do with a 50-year-old juvenile who persists in trying to embarrass India but with no knowledge of its history?" Panda shot back at Gandhi in a tweet.
The killing of 20 Indian soldiers, including an officer by Chinese PLA forces in Galwan valley on Monday night, has sparked a political war between the opposition and the ruling BJP, as Rahul Gandhi has kept questioning the government over the face-off.
(With inputs from agencies)
