Team Clarion
NEW DELHI – In a scathing criticism of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Subramanian Swamy has slammed the PM for maintaining silence over China’s new ‘standard map’ that claims portions of Indian territory, including Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin. Swamy’s remarks come as tensions rise ahead of the G20 summit scheduled to be held in India between September 9-10, 2023, where Chinese President Xi Jinping is reportedly expected to attend in person.
Subramanian Swamy, a vocal critic of the Modi government on various occasions, took to social media to condemn what he termed as the PM’s “lying” about China’s territorial claims. He likened Modi’s alleged falsehoods to those of India’s first Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and called it a “huge sin.” Swamy also suggested that if Modi could not protect the integrity of the nation, he should step aside and retire.
“Modi bluffed the Indian people when in 2020 he brazenly said that China had not crossed the LAC and also China had not grabbed territory of Bharat Mata. This lie of Modi is a huge sin. Now we will see Modi bow and scrape before Xi in the G20 Meet next week in India,” Swamy posted on his social media account.
As India prepares to host the G20 summit, which will reportedly have Chinese President Xi Jinping in attendance, Swamy’s criticism highlights concerns over China’s territorial ambitions and India’s response to them. The Indian Ministry of External Affairs had earlier lodged a strong protest against China’s new map edition, asserting that such actions only complicate the resolution of the boundary question between the two nations.
External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar had dismissed China’s claims, emphasizing that mere “absurd claims” do not alter the ownership of territories. However, China defended its map revision as a “routine practice” in line with its laws and urged India to remain objective and calm while refraining from “over-interpreting” the issue.
The strained relations between India and China have been exacerbated by the ongoing border row in eastern Ladakh since May 2020. Despite disengagement efforts in several areas, Indian and Chinese troops remain in confrontation in specific friction points in the region.
India has consistently emphasized that maintaining peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is crucial for normalizing overall ties between the two nations. As Subramanian Swamy’s criticisms reverberate, they underscore the importance of addressing territorial disputes and maintaining a robust stance on national integrity within the Indian political landscape.
