NEW DELHI: A sharp political war of words erupted on Wednesday after Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition (LoP) Rahul Gandhi’s remarks on China and India’s industrial growth, with senior BJP leaders accusing him of undermining national interests and echoing narratives favourable to foreign powers.
The controversy arose followed LoP Gandhi’s speech in Tamil Nadu on Tuesday, where he addressed a school function and spoke about the future of children and India’s economic growth through industrial development.
LoP Rahul Gandhi stressed that while India has performed well in the IT sector, manufacturing has not reached its potential over the past 11 years, particularly in the small-scale sector. LoP Gandhi also highlighted that many commonly used items, such as microphones and cameras, are imported from China, underlining the need for a shift in mindset to promote domestic production.