(Photo credit: ANI)
NEW DELHI: A visit by a delegation of the Communist Party of China (CPC) to New Delhi has triggered a sharp political row with the Congress and the BJP trading accusations over transparency and India’s China policy.The row began after a CPC delegation led by its international department’s vice minister Sun Haiyan visited the BJP headquarters on Monday. Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong was also part of the delegation. A BJP team headed by party general secretary Arun Singh discussed “the means to advance inter-party communications between the BJP and the Communist Party of China”, BJP’s foreign affairs department in-charge Vijay Chauthaiwale wrote on X.The delegation also called on RSS general secretary Dattatreya Hosabale on Tuesday in what PTI sources described as a courtesy visit requested by the Chinese side. The CPC delegation also met Congress leader and former external affairs minister Salman Khurshid. The Congress said the meeting took place at the delegation’s request and with the approval of the government of India.
Congress questions BJP’s China dealings
Latching on the visit, the Congress mounted an attack on the BJP accusing it of double standards and demanding full disclosure of its engagements with the CPC. He questioned whether the BJP or the RSS raised issues such as border transgressions, trade imbalance, rare earth supplies and Chinese support to Pakistan. “We have no problems that you meet… The issue is that do you raise critical questions when you meet behind closed doors?” Khera asked.”The BJP has taught even a chameleon how to change its colours. Those who were supposed to show ‘red eyes’ to China have instead rolled out a ‘red carpet’ for it. The BJP has held meetings with China’s party, the CPC. Even when they were not in power, they used to visit China and hold meetings; RSS members even went there for training,” he added.Demanding transparency, he said, “This must include public disclosure of the agenda, outcomes and minutes of all closed-door meetings held between representatives of the CPC and BJP/RSS functionaries.”
BJP hits back, cites ‘improved’ ties
The BJP rejected Congress’s allegations saying its meeting with the CPC was formal and open. BJP spokesperson Tuhin Sinha said, “It was a process of a formal meeting. A formal meeting takes place when a situation improves. We do it very openly.”“We do not secretly sign any such MoU which we can not explain for years,” he added.Sinha said the meeting took place because “things have improved”, pointing to the resumption of flights and ongoing trade talks. He also attacked Rahul Gandhi, saying he had lost the right to question the government’s foreign policy.BJP spokesperson Nalin Kohli said the Congress had “no locus” to raise border issues, claiming the roots of the China problem lay in the Nehru era. “Nevertheless, the Prime Minister Narendra Modi government has been working to resolve it. And that effort is continuing unabated,” he said.
TMC alleges ‘double standards’
The Trinamool Congress also criticised the BJP over the CPC visit. TMC Rajya Sabha deputy leader Sagarika Ghose accused the ruling party of hypocrisy, saying China had lent “open military support” to Pakistan during Operation Sindoor and had reiterated its claim over the Shaksgam Valley.“Just imagine if an opposition leader or party had done this. Double standards of BJP and its slave media glaringly exposed. Again,” Ghose said in a post on X. Go to Source
