NB Viewpoint | Union ministers 'thank' Rahul Gandhi for his Ladakh bike trip but Congress leader says 'no thanks'

NewsBharati    21-Aug-2023 10:15:23 AM
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"To witness and spread the word about post-Article 370 developments in Leh and Ladakh, Shri Rahul Gandhi himself has taken a trip to the valley. We are elated and delighted to watch glimpses of his road trip" - Prahlad Joshi, Union Minister



New Delhi, Aug 21: After Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's scenic bike trip in Ladakh emerged on social media, Union ministers Kiren Rijiju and Pralhad Joshi on Saturday thanked and complimented the Congress leader for promoting tourism in the Valley. But was it actually, a thank you note? Not at all.

Rahul Gandhi Ladakh BJP 
 
The praise was actually a sly dig directed at the development that has taken place in the region in recent years under the Narendra Modi government.

Union ministers Kiren Rijiju and Pralhad Joshi thank Rahul Gandhi

"Thanks to Rahul Gandhi for promoting excellent roads of Ladakh built by the Narendra Modi govt. Earlier, he also showcased how Tourism is booming in Kashmir Valley & reminded all that our "National Flag" can be peacefully hoisted at Lal Chowk in Srinagar now!" Rijiju posted on X (formerly Twitter).
He also shared a video of 2012 purportedly showing some cars driving across rough and unpaved roads full of stones and boulders en route to the famous Pangong lake. The earth sciences minister juxtaposed that with a picture of Gandhi riding a motorcycle on a smooth blacktop road en route Pangong Tso.
Earlier too, Rijiju said that Rahul had showcased how tourism was booming in Kashmir Valley and reminded all that the national flag can be peacefully hoisted at Lal Chowk in Srinagar now.
Parliamentary affairs minister Pralhad Joshi quipped that he was "delighted" to watch glimpses of Rahul's road trip. "To witness and spread the word about post-Article 370 developments in Leh and Ladakh, Shri Rahul Gandhi himself has taken a trip to the valley. We are elated and delighted to watch glimpses of his road trip," Joshi said on X.
Notably, this was Rahul's first visit to Ladakh since it was carved out of Jammu and Kashmir and converted into a Union Territory in 2019.

Rahul Gandhi says no thanks

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Sunday claimed that PM Modi's assertion that not an inch of the land in Ladakh has been taken over by China is not true.
On a tour of Ladakh, Rahul said, "The locals here are concerned about China taking our land. They have said that the Chinese troops took away their grazing land. However, the PM says not an inch of land was taken away. This is not true, you can ask anyone here."
Gandhi also raised questions over the Union territory status given to Ladakh after the bifurcation of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories following the abrogation of Article 370. "There were so many complaints from the people of Ladakh, They are not happy with the status that has been given to them, they want more representation and unemployment is also a concern. People are saying that the state should not be run by bureaucracy but by representatives of the people, the Congress MP added.

BJP hits back

BJP hit back on Sunday, with Ravi Shankar Prasad saying, "You [Rahul] are raising questions over our soldiers' bravery and sacrifice in Galwan. Why do you defame India, visiting there? Why do you become China's propaganda machinery?"
Prasad said China had to withdraw in Galwan due to the bravery and sacrifice of Indian soldiers.
Rahul Gandhi NB Viewpoint Ladakh Kiren Rijiju Ravi Shankar Prasad Prahlad Joshi