In a heated speech on January 31 in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, Congress MP and Leader of Opposition, raised serious concerns about India’s dependence on Chinese goods, warning that it poses a significant national security threat. He directly connected this dependence to the perceived failure of Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s flagship ‘Make in India’ initiative, calling it a failure in addressing India’s industrial and defense needs.
Concerns Over National Security and ‘Make in India’ Failure
Gandhi, addressing the House during the Motion of Thanks on the President’s address, said, “Our Chief of Army Staff has confirmed that Chinese forces are inside our territory. The reason they are here is crucial. The failure of the ‘Make in India’ initiative is allowing China to sit within our borders. India has not produced enough, and this failure has put our sovereignty at risk. I am concerned that once again, India might surrender its industrial future to China,” he stated, accusing the government of neglecting the country’s production capabilities. He stressed that India must focus on self-reliance to avoid the growing influence of foreign powers, especially China.
Gandhi’s comments pointed out the potential vulnerabilities in India’s defense preparedness. “If we end up in a conflict with China, we will be fighting with Chinese components—Chinese electric motors, batteries, and optics. We are depending on Chinese-made goods even for our defense capabilities,” Gandhi remarked, criticizing the government for not addressing these critical issues. His words highlighted the importance of India becoming self-sufficient in terms of defense technology and production to ensure national security.
Strengthening India-U.S. Strategic Partnership
Further in his speech, Rahul Gandhi emphasized the need to bolster India’s strategic partnership with the United States to build a robust industrial base. “India and the U.S. are critical partners in the global industrial revolution. The U.S. cannot build a sustainable industrial system without us. Our cost structures are far more competitive than theirs, and we have the capacity to manufacture what they cannot even imagine,” Gandhi stated, calling for more collaboration with the U.S. to enhance India’s manufacturing sector and reduce dependence on China.
Criticism of the President’s Address and ‘Make in India’
While speaking about the President’s address, Gandhi criticized its content, describing it as a repetition of last year’s speech. “It’s the same laundry list of things the government has done,” he remarked. Gandhi pointed out that despite the efforts, unemployment continues to be a significant issue in India, with no clear answers being provided to the youth regarding job creation. He also reiterated that while the ‘Make in India’ initiative was a noble idea, it has largely failed under the current government.
Prime Minister Modi, who was present in the House, listened to the criticism, but the Congress leader’s sharp remarks were met with objections from BJP MPs. Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju responded to Gandhi’s comments, accusing him of making unsubstantiated claims about the government’s foreign policy. “Such serious statements about India’s foreign policy need to be backed by facts,” Rijiju said.
Conclusion: Need for Focus on National Security and Self-Reliance
Rahul Gandhi’s speech in the Lok Sabha brought attention to the urgent need for India to address its dependence on foreign products, particularly Chinese goods, in key sectors like defense. He stressed that the ‘Make in India’ initiative, while well-intentioned, has not been successful in its objectives, and the government must do more to promote indigenous manufacturing and reduce reliance on external suppliers. Moreover, Gandhi called for strengthening India’s strategic alliances, particularly with the U.S., to boost the country’s industrial and defense capabilities. His comments underscore the importance of self-reliance in national security and economic growth.
As the debate continues, it is clear that India’s future industrial and defense policies must evolve to meet the challenges posed by external dependencies.
