ISLAMABAD
\nIndian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi\u2019s handling of relations with China, saying Beijing was \u201coccupying our territory,\u201d while also taking a dig at the Hindu nationalist leader over the country\u2019s religious polarization.
\n\u201cThe fact of the matter is China is occupying our territory. It\u2019s an accepted fact,\u201d Gandhi, who belongs to the opposition Congress party, said in remarks at The National Press Club during a visit to Washington.
\n\u201cIt\u2019s absolutely unacceptable. Prime Minister seems to believe otherwise.\u201d
\nIndia\u2019s embassy in Washington did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Gandhi\u2019s trip comes weeks ahead of Modi\u2019s scheduled US visit later this month.
\nChina and India have been uneasy neighbours for decades following the war on their disputed Himalayan frontier in the early 1960s.
\nAfter deadly border clashes in 2020 that killed 20 Indian soldiers and four Chinese troops, China this year ramped up the tension by renaming 11 locations in India\u2019s eastern state of Arunachal Pradesh, which China calls southern Tibet and claims as its territory. India has rejected and denied those claims.
\nIn May, Modi said peace on India\u2019s border with China is essential for normal relations between the nuclear-armed neighbours. Since coming to power in 2014, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) government of Modi has pumped millions of dollars to boost military and civilian infrastructure along its 3,800km (2,360-mile) frontier with China.
\nSeparately, Gandhi blamed Modi for India\u2019s religious polarization, saying his Hindu nationalist party was not inclusive.
\n\u201cThey sort of generate a certain amount of hatred in society, they polarize society and they are not inclusive. They don\u2019t embrace everybody, and they divide society,\u201d Gandhi said.
\nThe BJP denies the allegations and says its policies are aimed at the welfare and development of all Indians.
\nGandhi also accused the BJP of \u201ccapture of institutions\u201d and \u201ccapture of the press\u201d in India. Since Modi came to power in 2014, India has slid from 140th in World Press Freedom Index, an annual ranking by non-profit Reporters Without Borders, to 161st this year, its lowest ever.
\nThe BJP denies institutional compromise and says its governance abides by the rule of law.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
ISLAMABAD Indian opposition leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi\u2019s handling of relations with China, saying Beijing was \u201coccupying our territory,\u201d while also taking a dig at the Hindu nationalist leader over the country\u2019s religious polarization. \u201cThe fact of the matter is China is occupying our territory. It\u2019s an accepted fact,\u201d Gandhi, […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":335084,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[6],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-335068","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-world"},"yoast_head":"\n