LAC dispute a Chinese design to attack 56-inch strongman's image, Rahul attacks PM Modi; BJP hits back

Rahul Gandhi said the Chinese are trying to put pressure on PM Modi to act in a way they want him to

In a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Rahul Gandhi on Monday said his “fabricated strongman image” has become “India’s biggest weakness”, remarks that drew a strong rebuttal from the BJP.

“PM fabricated a fake strongman image to come to power. It was his biggest strength. It is now India's biggest weakness,” Rahul said on Twitter, sharing a short video on the border crisis with China.

Read: PM Modi's 'indiscretions' weakened India, left it vulnerable: Rahul Gandhi on border standoff

The former Congress President claimed that the Prime Minister has succumbed to his image of a strong man while dealing with China.

“The worry I have is, the Chinese are sitting in our territory today and the Prime Minister has said publicly they are not, which to me tells me that he is worried about his image and defending his image,” Rahul said.

The Congress leader’s remarks drew a sharp rebuttal from BJP President J P Nadda, terming the video as “yet another (failed) edition of ‘Project RG Relaunch’.”

“We saw yet another (failed) edition of ‘Project RG Relaunch’ today. Rahul Gandhi Ji was, as usual, weak on facts and strong on mudslinging,” Nadda said.

Also Read: India, China committed to objective of complete disengagement at LAC: Officials

“Attempts to politicise defence and foreign policy matters show one dynasty’s desperation to wash their past sins of 1962 and weaken India,” the BJP President said.

In the video, Rahul said if the Prime Minister allowed “the Chinese to understand that they can manipulate him because of his image, the Indian Prime Minister will no longer be worth anything for India”.

Rahul said the Chinese actions in Ladakh could reflect its larger thinking of “doing something with Pakistan in Kashmir” as they were disturbed by the highway India was building in the region.

“So it is not simply a border issue. It is a border issue designed to put pressure on the Prime Minister of India. And they are thinking of putting pressure in a very particular way. And what they are doing, is that they are attacking his image,” Rahul said.

“They understand that in order for Mr Narendra Modi to be an effective politician; in order for Mr Narendra Modi to survive as a politician, he has to protect the idea of ‘Chhapan Inch’,” the former Congress President said.