Rahul Gandhi defends meeting Chinese envoy, says 'it's my job to be informed on critical issues'

Amid the growing Sikkim standoff, Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi met Chinese and Bhutanese envoys, confirmed Congress.

Defending his meeting Congress vice president Rahul Gandhi said it was his duty to be informed about the critical issues such as border dispute with China.

"It is my job to be informed on critical issues.I met Chinese ambassador, Ex-NSA, Cong leaders from NE & Bhutanese ambassador, said Congress vice-president Rahul Gandhi.

It is my job to be informed on critical issues. I met the Chinese Ambassador, Ex-NSA, Congress leaders from NE & the Bhutanese Ambassador

— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) July 10, 2017

Earlier, the Congress party had denied reports that Rahul met Chinese ambassador amid the current border standoff in Sikkim sector.

However, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala later confirmed the news and said that meeting took place between Rahul and Chinese envoy Luo Zhaohui.

“Envoys met Rahul Gandhi ji, not only Chinese envoy but also Bhutanese envoy and ex-NSA Shiv Shankar Menon,” Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala Said.

Surjewala also said it was a regular meeting and should not be sensationalised.

“Various ambassadors and envoys keep meeting Congress President and Vice President time to time on (the) courtesy basis and nobody should attempt to sensationalise this, he said.

In a now deleted post, the official website of the Chinese embassy referred to Rahul Gandhi’s meeting with Chinese envoy on Saturday last week and they discussed current India-China border standoff.

Suggested Read: Ulterior motives prompted India to include tri-junction in Sikkim standoff, says China

The entire border row started last month after the Chinese side started building a road at the tri-junction that Thimpu and New Delhi both claim is inside Bhutan but Beijing insists is in China. India govt has conveyed the message to China that India will not allow such construction that represents a significant change of status quo with serious security implications for India.