Government soft on China due to Left: Rajnath

Accusing the Centre of ignoring India's strategic interests, Bharatiya Janata Party president Rajnath Singh on Monday said the United Progressive Alliance government is soft on China due to support by the Left parties.

"Yes, there is truth in what you say," Rajnath Singh said when asked if the government was soft on China owing to support extended to it by the Left parties.

"A complacent UPA is helping China's strategic expansion," the BJP president told reporters. "The manner in which the UPA government is busy placating China, it has put our strategic interests in jeopardy," he said.

Rajnath Singh accused the Communists of indulging in "domestic friendship" with the UPA and "international friendship with China."

The UPA government has failed miserably on both domestic and international fronts, he said.

In the international arena, the government has become isolated, he added.

During the last four years, India has lost the diplomatic edge achieved by the National Democratic Alliance regime, Rajnath Singh said.

A recent claim by China on the 'Finger Point area' in Sikkim shows China's impudence while dealing with India, he said. China had accepted Sikkim as an integral part of India when NDA was in power, Rajnath Singh said.

The meek response to continuing incursions of Chinese troops into Indian territory in Ladakh and north-east has made India a vulnerable target, he said.

China is trying to humiliate India as it is emboldened by the UPA government's complacency, Rajnath Singh said.

"On the one hand it is snubbing India on key diplomatic issues and on the other hand, is expanding its strategic strength in the region," he said.

The BJP chief referred to the Chinese nuclear submarine base about 1200 nautical miles off Straits of Malacca, construction of a sea port at Gwadar in Pakistan, installation of radar at Coco islands in Myanmar and building of an airport at Humban Tota in Sri Lanka.

"These developments have helped China in encircling India," he added.

Rajnath Singh also expressed fears of imminent economic slowdown due to the 'wrong policies' of the UPA regime.

"The prices of petrol and diesel have increased nine times in the last four years," he said.

Inflation has shot up in the UPA regime, Rajnath Singh said.

"Last week, the inflation rate was 8.24 per cent and I will not be surprised if the rate touches double digits by this month-end," he said.