Pawan Khera Slams Centre Over 'Surrender' to China: Trade, Visas, and Border Concerns
Congress leader Pawan Khera accuses the Centre of surrendering India's interests to China, citing trade deficits and border incursions in Arunachal Pradesh.
Congress leader Pawan Khera has launched a scathing attack on the Central government, accusing it of "surrendering" India's national interests to China. During a press conference at the All India Congress Committee (AICC) office in New Delhi, Khera questioned the outcomes of the government's current approach toward Beijing, challenging the military's ability to patrol key areas that were accessible prior to April 2020.
Border Tensions and Patrolling Rights
Khera's primary concern centered on the border situation. He questioned whether Indian forces could still patrol the points they had accessed before the 2020 clashes. He argued that if concessions were made, the government should have secured tangible gains in return, rather than simply accepting Chinese terms.
Khera further highlighted reports of Chinese incursions in Arunachal Pradesh, contradicting the government's claims that the situation remains normal. He pointed to social media appeals from local rural residents in the border regions, stating, "Every day you hear that China has entered Arunachal... then our minister says, sir, I am swimming by jumping into the river, everything is normal here. What is this normal? This is not normal at all!"
The Human Cost
Khera did not spare the government's emotional weight, urging the Centre to tell the families of the martyred soldiers that everything is normal. He questioned whether anyone from the administration had inquired about the welfare of those 20 families who lost their loved ones in border conflicts.
Economic Fallout and Trade Deficit
The Congress leader also raised alarms over the economic impact of China's influence. He cited a specific increase in the trade deficit, which he reportedly climbed from 99 billion dollars to 112 billion dollars. Khera alleged that this "surrender" extends to trade policies and visa restrictions.
- Visa Policies: Khera claimed that the government has suddenly increased visas for Chinese officers and workers to enter India.
- MSME Sector: He argued that that the government is "ruining the MSME of your country" by catering to Chinese demands.
- Press Note 3: He he mentioned Press Note 3 and the removal of travel restrictions as further evidence of a soft approach.
Infrastructure and International Pressure
Khera Khera also brought up a technical infrastructure issue involving Tunnel Boring Machines (TBMs). He alleged that China stopped a German company from preventing the sending of such machines to India, which caused significant losses to the country. He noted that 70% of the world's TBMs are made in China, and this unofficial block on German-made machines was a result of China's influence.
Khera further alleged that the government is facing pressure from both China and the United States, claiming the government is "getting blackmailed" and even referencing Epstein's files in relation to the government's surrender to America.
Supporting Allegations from Jairam Ramesh
The attack was not only led by Khera. Earlier in the day, Congress MP Jairam Ramesh had also voiced similar concerns. Ramesh accused the Centre of making concessions to China and remaining silent on border tensions, specifically alleging that India has lost patrolling points in Arunachal Pradesh. While he noting that the Director General of the ITBP had praised the force's performance during recent face-offs with the PLA, Ramesh claimed the Prime Minister and his establishment have remained silent on the issue.