India isolated; voices of States muffled: Rahul Gandhi
The HinduFormer Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Wednesday said the Narendra Modi government had put India at risk by bringing China and Pakistan together as a “unified front”, and found itself isolated and surrounded by the neighbours even as there were fights raging within. Participating as the first Opposition speaker in the Lok Sabha in the debate on the Motion of Thanks to the President for his Address to the joint session of Parliament, Mr. Gandhi said, “The judiciary, Election Commission and the Pegasus spyware are all instruments to destroy the voice of Union of States.” Referring to Pegasus he said, “When the Prime Minister personally goes to Israel and authorises the use of Pegasus in India, he is attacking the people of Tamil Nadu, he is attacking the people of Assam, he is attacking the people of Kerala, he is attacking the people of Bengal.” Budget Session updates | February 2, 2022 The comment prompted Law Minister Kiren Rijiju to demand an “unconditional apology” from the Congress leader for “abusing the constitutional authorities from the Parliament House”. Mr. Gandhi said India made a “huge strategic mistake” in diplomacy and in Jammu and Kashmir and “we must make absolutely sure that we can defend ourselves against the Chinese”. That is why we start this conversation as a nation,” Mr. Gandhi said, adding that the government should use the experience of the Congress in dealing with complex diplomatic issues.