Defence Minister Rajnath Singh hit out at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday for his recent statement in Parliament, blaming the BJP-led government’s foreign policy to bring China and Pakistan together, and also accused him of trying to distort history. Addressing a rally in Punjab’s Dasuya ahead of the February 20 state Assembly polls, Singh urged people to bring the BJP-PLC-SAD (Sanyukt) alliance to power, assuring them that the state will see fast development under the new regime.

In an apparent reference to Gandhi, he said there are some forces that speak whatever comes to their mind.

“Whatever Rahul Gandhiji said in Parliament, it hurt a lot. Rahulji tried to distort history in Parliament and alleged that because of our wrong foreign policies, Pakistan and China became friends,” Singh said.

He wondered if the Congress leader was not aware of the history and said when the Shaksgam valley was handed over by Pakistan to China, Jawaharlal Nehru was the prime minister of India.

“When the Karakoram highway was built in PoK (Pakistan-occupied Kashmir), Indira Gandhi was the prime minister.

“You (Rahul Gandhi) are blaming the BJP government’s policies for the friendship between China and Pakistan. It is a baseless allegation,” Singh said.

Referring to a violent clash between Indian and Chinese soldiers in Ladakh’s Galwan valley, he said the Indian soldiers displayed exemplary courage and valour in the line of duty and even sacrificed their lives.

“Our soldiers made sacrifices but never allowed an inch of land to go to China,” the defence minister said.

Taking a jibe at Gandhi over the number of casualties on the Chinese side, he said, “It means you will accept whatever Chinese mouthpiece Global Times says.”

Singh referred to a report published in Australian newspaper “The Klaxon”, which stated the possibility of 38-50 Chinese casualties.

The senior BJP leader said he never raised a question over the valour of the Indian Army irrespective of which political party was in power.

The BJP is contesting the Punjab polls in an alliance with the Punjab Lok Congress (PLC), led by former chief minister Amarinder Singh, and the Sukhdev Singh Dhindsa-led Shiromani Akali Dal (Sanyukt).

“You voted the NDA government to power in Delhi (Centre) and now, there should be an NDA government in Punjab too under the BJP’s leadership. Progress will be fast in Punjab,” Singh told the gathering.

He also took on the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) for announcing freebies as its election promises.

“A new party has come and it is the AAP. Punjab needs Punjabis, not the AAP,” Singh said while attacking the Arvind- Kejriwal-led party for making “false claims” in its advertisements.

“People do not need alms. They want India’s head to be held high,” he added.

Recalling the sacrifices made by the Sikh community for the country, the defence minister said, “We can never forget the sacrifices of the Sikh community. We have a Sikh regiment (in the Indian Army) and when I see their courage, I feel proud.”

Countering the political rivals of the BJP over the issue of a minimum support price for crops, Singh said in the Union Budget, a provision of Rs 2.37 lakh crore has been made for procurement of crops.

The 117-member Punjab Assembly is scheduled to go to polls on February 20 and the counting of cotes will be taken up on March 10.