Rahuls remarks harmful, should mend ways after SC rebuke: Kiren Rijiju
Rijiju's remarks came hours after the Supreme Court made oral observations censuring Gandhi for claiming that China had occupied 2,000 sq km of Indian territory.
'These kinds of statements from the Leader of the Opposition are extremely harmful for the nation, and they demoralise our forces," the minister said.
He said several leaders had appealed to Gandhi not to make unsubstantiated statements, but he was unwilling to take any counsel.
'I am happy that the Supreme Court has given him a warning. It is a strong rebuke for making unsubstantiated claims. I hope he and the Congress mend their ways after the rebuke from the Supreme Court," Rijiju said.
The minister asserted that India's territory was completely secure.
Rijiju said the armed forces and the government have consistently stated that while there is a longstanding border dispute, no land has been seized by China.
'Maybe, Rahul Gandhi may have got his information from the Chinese," the minister said.
Rijiju said this dispute dated back to before 1962, and there have been occasional confrontations during patrolling, something clearly visible in several videos showing face-offs between the Indian and Chinese armies, largely because the boundary is not demarcated.
The minister said Gandhi is a responsible citizen and should refrain from making unsubstantiated claims.
'In my state, in my village, I know how assiduously our armed forces protect our land. How can he make such claims, sitting in Delhi, that our land has been grabbed in Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh," said Rijiju, who represents the Arunachal West parliamentary seat in the Lok Sabha. PTI SKU RHL
view comments
First Published:
Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
India.com
14 minutes ago
- India.com
Why Noted American Economist Said U.S. Wants A ‘Weaker' India; How His Prediction On Trump And Trade Deal Is Now Coming True
Washington/New Delhi: Sharing his views on India-U.S. trade relations, American economist Jeffrey Sachs expressed strong doubts about the possibility of a successful deal between the two countries. He said he would be very surprised if India managed to secure any trade deal with the United States because the U.S. government had no real interest in India's progress and aimed to keep the country weak. 'If India manages to strike a deal with the United States, I would be extremely surprised. This government (President Donald Trump's) does not care about India's well-being,' he told journalist Shweta Punj at the 'Rising Bharat Summit' hosted by Moneycontrol in April this year. Four months later, in August, the United States imposed a 25 percent tariff on Indian goods. The relationship between Washington and New Delhi has slid into a phase few predicted, but Sachs saw it coming. Once dismissed by some as exaggerated, his warning now feels eerily close to today's headlines. Trump's administration has made no secret of its stance, sanctions, public remarks criticising India's oil trade with Russia and repeated pressure over the India-Pakistan standoff. These moves, according to experts, chip away at India's autonomy and challenge the framework of sovereign diplomacy. India was among the few countries to engage early with Trump's White House for a trade agreement. The talks dragged on and nothing concrete emerged. The gap widened. Sachs tried to explain why, not with jargon but blunt words. 'America wants to use India against China. But make no mistake, this government has no interest in a stronger India,' he said. He asked people to trust what he had seen up close. 'Donald Trump is not going to open American doors to Indian manufacturers. This is a game and a strategic design to replace China, yes. But not with India,' he said. He called India a successful economy, not once but thrice. 'Very, very, very successful,' he said. He spoke of a future where India grows even stronger. In that future, Sachs said, America will not like what it sees, just as it does not like China now. Even if India opens its agriculture sector to U.S. companies, he said, the result would be the same. 'Trump will never let Indian goods flood the U.S. market. His whole idea is to block low-cost manufacturers. He is not going to let India replace China,' he said. Sachs did not stop at trade. He pointed to the larger structure, which is the global supply chain. 'They want India to help crush China. But they do not want India inside the system either. Not now. Not ever,' he added. He urged India to keep its options open. 'Never close the door to China or Russia because America's game is to prevent the rise of a strong India,' he said. Now, in August, his words feel less like a theory and more like a lived truth.
India.com
14 minutes ago
- India.com
‘Unavoidable Reasons': Rahul Gandhi And Tejashwi Yadavs Joint Bihar Rally Postponed
New Delhi: The much-anticipated 'Vote Adhikar Yatra' of Rahul Gandhi and Tejashwi Yadav, originally scheduled to begin on August 10 in Bihar, has been postponed due to unforeseen circumstances. The Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) officially announced the postponement through a letter (No. 168, dated August 4, 2025) issued by its state office, citing "unavoidable reasons" behind the decision. The death of a former Chief Minister of Jharkhand is believed to be the primary reason behind the deferment, sources said. The party has urged supporters and officials to consider the previous schedule cancelled until a new date is announced. The revised schedule of the yatra will be communicated in due course. As per the earlier plan, the first phase of the yatra was to commence from Sasaram in Rohtas district on August 10 and culminate in Narpatganj in Araria district on August 19, covering several districts across Bihar. Jointly organised by Congress and RJD, the yatra was being projected as a people's movement for voter rights and a direct protest against the controversial Special Intensive Revision (SIR) process of the Election Commission. The two opposition parties also planned to use this platform to attack both the Modi government at the Centre and the Nitish Kumar government in Bihar on various election-related issues. Leaders from both parties had termed the yatra as the beginning of their electoral campaign for the upcoming Bihar Assembly elections. It was designed not only to voice opposition to recent electoral roll deletions under SIR but also to galvanise support and re-energise the Mahagathbandhan cadre ahead of the polls. Party insiders said the announcement of the yatra had already created a buzz within the alliance, with grassroots workers and ticket aspirants gearing up to participate in large numbers. For many local leaders, it was a crucial opportunity to showcase strength and influence in front of top leadership Now, with the program postponed, political attention will shift to the rescheduled dates, which are expected to be strategically aligned with future election planning and regional developments.
&w=3840&q=100)
Business Standard
14 minutes ago
- Business Standard
Despite US pressure, Russian oil tankers unload at Indian refineries
More tankers are poised to discharge another 2.2 million barrels of Urals in the coming hours Bloomberg By Weilun Soon and Rakesh Sharma At least four tankers discharged millions of barrels of Russian crude at Indian refineries at the weekend, a sign the closely scrutinised deliveries are continuing as normal, even as the US ramps up pressure on the South Asian country to stop purchases. Oil traders and shipping companies have been waiting for direction from New Delhi on whether supplies from Moscow will be allowed to continue after US President Donald Trump last week threatened punitive action to curb trade with Russia. Over the weekend, a senior aide accused India of effectively funding President Vladimir Putin's war in Ukraine. Washington's tough demands, coming after a surprise 25 per cent tariff on Indian exports to the US, threw private and state-owned refineries' purchase plans into disarray. Still, India hasn't asked refiners to stop Russian crude imports, according to people familiar with the matter. Three Aframaxes — the Achilles, Elyte and Horae — unloaded nearly 2.2 million barrels of Urals crude, a key Russian grade, to private processors Nayara Energy Ltd and Reliance Industries Ltd over the weekend after a slight delay, ship-tracking data show. The Mikati, also an Aframax, delivered more than 720,000 barrels of Russia's Varandey crude on a two-stop journey that included deliveries to refineries in Kochi and Mangalore. State-run Bharat Petroleum Corp Ltd owns the Kochi refinery, while Mangalore Refinery and Petrochemicals Ltd. is majority owned by state-run Oil and Natural Gas Corp Ltd. More tankers are poised to discharge another 2.2 million barrels of Urals in the coming hours, with Minion and Destan now at Sikka, a terminal operated by Reliance. Aldebaran is due to unload across the gulf at Mundra. While Bloomberg News couldn't immediately determine the buyer, the Mundra port serves both government-run Indian Oil Corp Ltd. and HPCL-Mittal Energy Ltd, partially owned by state-run Hindustan Petroleum Corp Ltd. Reliance, the largest buyer of Russian Urals, has a long-term deal with Russian producer Rosneft PJSC that would ensure it can get those barrels over several years. India's appetite for discounted Russian crude, and its position as the single largest buyer of Moscow's seaborne oil, has long been a pain point for the US and Western allies. Scrutiny has increased in recent weeks, even before Trump's latest comments. Nayara was sanctioned by the European Union on July 18 for its links to Russia, prompting the processor to cut run rates and pushing trade partners to seek supplies elsewhere.
