Sushma prostrated before Chinese power on Doklam: Rahul

Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday hit out at External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj for “buckling to Chinese power” over her claims of China maintaining status quo in Doklam.

Rahul's missive came a day after Sushma told the Lok Sabha that the Doklam issue with China was resolved with “diplomatic maturity and without losing any ground”.

“There is no change in the status quo (in Doklam). There is not an iota of change,” Sushma had said on Wednesday during Question Hour.

Rahul took to Twitter to launch a fresh attack on the Modi government over the issue and attached a news report quoting a US official that China had quietly resumed its activities in the Doklam region and neither India nor Bhutan has said a word.

“Amazing how a lady like Sushma Ji has buckled and prostrated herself in front of Chinese power. Absolute subservience to the leader means our brave jawan has been betrayed on the border,” Rahul said.

The Congress described Sushma's statement on Doklam as “sheet of misleading opaqueness” that failed to provide the larger picture of Chinese presence in South Doklam.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said that the government and Sushma were “conspicuously silent” on the Chinese military buildup and new road construction in the South Doklam region, overlooking the "Chicken's Neck".

“Sushma said nothing about the creation of a full-fledged Chinese military complex at Doklam right up to 10 metres from the Indian Army Post, reflected in the satellite imagery released earlier by the Congress, besides media reports,” he said.

The Opposition has been attacking the government for not raising these issues with China during the visits by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Sushma or Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman.

Sushma had said on Wednesday that the Doklam issue was not raised during Modi's informal summit meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in May as the matter was resolved on August 28 last year.