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New Delhi: A political controversy has erupted after a delegation of the Communist Party of China (CCP) met BJP and RSS leaders, with the Opposition slamming the ruling party and its ideological parent organisation for their "hypocrisy".
The Chinese delegation met the Rashtriya Swayamsewak Sangh (RSS) second-in-command today afternoon at the outfit’s headquarters in Delhi’s Keshav Kunj, a day after holding discussions with the BJP leadership in the national capital.
"It was a courtesy call by them. The request for the meeting had come from the Chinese side," sources said, adding that RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat was not present at the meeting.
On Monday, the CCP delegation, led by its international department's Vice Minister Sun Haiyan, visited the BJP headquarters. Chinese Ambassador to India Xu Feihong was also part of the delegation that visited the BJP office on Monday.
During the meeting, the BJP delegation, headed by party national general secretary Arun Singh, discussed at length "the means to advance inter-party communications between the BJP and the CPC."
Congress slammed BJP-RSS over CPC meeting
The Congress hit out at the ruling BJP over its meeting with the Chinese delegation and said that those who were supposed to show "red eyes" to China have instead rolled out the "red carpet" for them.
Addressing a press conference, Congress leader Pawan Khera said that they don't have any issue with the meeting but have a problem with the "BJP's hypocrisy".
"The BJP has held meetings with the Chinese Communist Party (CPC). Even when they weren't in power, they used to go to China for meetings, and RSS members received training there. We have no problem with a political party meeting or engaging in dialogue with a political party from another country, but we do have a problem with the BJP's hypocrisy, pretense, and deceit," he said.
He further said that the BJP kept shouting for years that the Congress party had signed an MoU with China, and now they themselves are holding meetings with the Chinese delegation. The ruling party has repeatedly slammed Congress for its past proximity with the CPC.
"We have a problem with the BJP's intentions, because the country ends up paying the price for these meetings held behind closed doors," he added.
The senior Congress leader further asked if the BJP discussed territorial issues related to Galwan, Ladakh, and Arunachal Pradesh with the CPC. He also asked whether the BJP flagged the Shaksgam Valley issue with the Chinese delegation.
"A senior army officer said that during Operation Sindoor, China was helping Pakistan, so was this issue discussed? China has deployed HQ-9 air defense systems, China has given PL-15 missiles to Pakistan, which were targeting India, yet why was the Mansarovar Yatra started by accepting China's conditions?" Khera asked.
What's the agenda of the meeting?
BJP had shared some photos from the meeting held on Monday and said that the meeting focused on "enhancing communication and interaction" between BJP and CPC.
“Under the leadership of H.E.Ms. Sun Haiyan, (Vice Minister, IDCPC) visited BJP head office today,” BJP foreign affairs department in-charge Vijay Chauthaiwale said in a post on X.
“During the discussion, a BJP delegation headed by party Gen Sec Shri Arun Singh Ji discussed at length the means to advance inter party communications between BJP and CPC. Chinese Ambassador to India H.E. Xu Feihong also joined the delegation. @ArunSinghbjp @China_Amb_India,” he added.
Courtesy call or diplomatic move?
While the BJP and RSS sought to downplay the latest engagement with the Chinese party, CPC delegation’s meetings with both the ruling party and its ideological parent organisation point to a measured attempt to widen political dialogue even as ties between India and China continue to remain on a downward trajectory.
The latest interaction also assumes significance as it was the first such engagement between the BJP and CPC in recent years. The two parties had last have a similar interaction in 2009 when the BJP was led by its then president and current Union minister Nitin Gadkari, Indian Express reported citing its sources. In 2011 too, the two parties held a similar interaction when Gadkari visited China.
