The Congress party seems to be unravelling as Congress spokespersons are seen losing their composure in Press conferences and debates. Another unpleasant sample was witnessed yesterday in the Zee News debate show “Taal Thok Ke”, hosted by Rubika Liyaqat and Congress spokesperson and former Rudrapur MLA Akhilesh Pratap Singh was one of the panelists.
The topic of the debate was promoted with the hashtag #SenaparNetagiribandkaro. The panellists included BJP spokesperson Dr Sambit Patra, Major General K K Sinha, Colonel Tej Tikku and Phunckok Stobdan who is a former ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, a former member of National Security Council and renowned expert on China and Central Asia.
The debate was about the recent allegations of Congress about the renewed tensions at Doklam where India and China were involved in a standoff a few months ago. Earlier this week some media houses have reported that China is rapidly expanding infrastructure in the disputed area of Doklam. Opindia.com was the only news portal to have called this bluff. Opindia.com’s counter article calling out the fake news propagated by media outlets stood vindicated when yesterday the MEA released a statement declaring that the status quo has not changed in Doklam.
However, Congress’ media cell called a press conference where Randeep Surjewala showed printouts of the satellite imagery and blamed the government for being ignorant and allowing China to expand infrastructure into the disputed territory.
Dr Sambit Patra of BJP explained in the debate that the Army and MEA are well aware and in control of the situation at India’s borders and Congress should not mislead the people with a few commonly available satellite imagery. Both Veterans Maj K K Sinha and Colonel Tikku supported this stand and asserted that the Army chief should be trusted and it is the Army who remains in dominion over India’s borders. They said that questioning their expertise based on random imagery was not only disrespectful but also unsettling.
[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sc4ZsBYb3mQ]
Mr Akhilesh Pratap Singh, however, was in no mood to listen to reason, when his baseless allegations were countered with hard facts. His anger at Congress’s claims being called baseless was such, that he called everyone on the panel “cowards”, including the seasoned Army Veterans who sat with him. Both of them, having extensive experience serving the nation at the borders, tried to reason with the Congress spokesperson claiming that the entire Himalayas is extremely difficult terrain and it takes decades to build infrastructure there. Maj Gen K K Sinha also said that the Indian Army possesses all the necessary power and strategic advantage to guard our borders and the Congress or anyone else for that matter should not try to drag the Army into petty politics.
The Congress spokesperson’s repeated assertions of calling the respected army veterans ‘cowards’ were severely protested by Dr Sambit Patra. Even the anchor Ms Liyaqat’s repeated insistence to apologise to the Veterans was ignored by the Congress spokesperson. He went on to raise his voice and said that Ms Liyaqat should be ashamed of herself.
Mr Phunchok Stobdan asserted that the petty attempts to demoralise the army and constantly fuelling caste and class-based divides in the country are being watched carefully by China and questioning the army baselessly is like playing into China’s hands.
Major General K K Sinha supported the stand. He added that China is well known for its psychological warfare and Congress’ constant attempts to disregard the Army Chief and belittling the sacrifices of our soldiers in attempts to create panic among the Indian people is helping China’s and its proxy Pakistan’s cause.
Ms Rubika Liyaqat condemned the Congress spokesperson’s disrespectful words and called it the most unfortunate debate of her entire career.
