Kharge Criticizes Modi Government on China Relations

New Delhi, Jul 3 (PTI) - Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge has sharply criticized the Modi administration on Thursday in reaction to reports of Chinese engineers leaving an Indian manufacturing plant and China's restrictions on the export of rare earth magnets. Kharge stated that the government's "Chinese guarantee" appears to be indefinite.

Kharge also questioned the government's lack of response regarding China's limitations on the supply of specialty fertilizers to India.

In a Hindi post on X, Kharge addressed Prime Minister Narendra Modi, asking, "Is it not true that China has withdrawn its officials from India's manufacturing sector?" He further claimed that instead of bolstering initiatives like 'Make in India' and 'Atmanirbhar Bharat,' the government appeared to lay out a "red carpet" for Chinese companies. This, he alleged, made it easier for Chinese citizens to obtain visas, especially to benefit from the Production Linked Incentive (PLI) scheme.

Kharge was seemingly alluding to reports of Chinese engineers departing from Foxconn's iPhone manufacturing plant located in southern India.

He highlighted China's strict export restrictions on rare earth magnets and minerals to India, which are crucial for sectors such as automotive, electric vehicles, defense, and high-security currency printing. Kharge alleged that the Indian government has not taken adequate steps against these restrictions, and Chinese officials have not met with or given approvals to the delegation from the Indian automobile industry.

Furthermore, Kharge accused China of halting the export of specialty fertilizers to India over the past two months, while continuing these exports to other countries. He emphasized the dependency of India, which imports 80% of its specialty fertilizers from China, on these imports to boost the yield of fruits, vegetables, and other crops.

"Is this not going to harm millions of Indian farmers already grappling with a shortage of Urea and DAP fertilizers?" he questioned.

Kharge accused the current government of giving a 'clean chit' to China five years ago, after the loss of 20 brave soldiers at Galwan. "Today, China is fully exploiting this situation while we watch helplessly," Kharge alleged.

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