Those who dine with Chinese musn't guide BJP: Union Minister Anurag Thakur slams Congress

Thakur's outburst comes after the Congress and others in Opposition issued an open letter on Apr 16 criticising the Modi government's silence over communal atmosphere in various parts of the country.

The Opposition slammed the Centre after violent incidents were reported on the occasion of Ram Navami and many later raised questions about attacks on Hanuman Jayanti processions being staged in several tweets.

The Union Minister for I&B addressing the media on the sidelines of a DISHA program in the Himachal city of Hamirpur on Monday evening took up the threat of BJP's attack from earlier in the day, when party national president JP Nadda had put out a long letter roasting the Opposition.

Answering a query on China settling two villages on Indian soil, Thakur said, "The country has seen what has been happening on the border from the time of Nehru till the time of Sonia (Gandhi). When China tried to encroach, Rahul Gandhi drank soup with Chinese embassy officials. Today he is guiding the BJP government!"

"Those who drink soup with Chinese officials should not try to guide the BJP leaders on how to work."

The Minister said, "The Narendra Modi government has empowered the country by fulfilling the needs of the army. It has worked to strengthen the army by giving it weapons.

"While on the other hand, Congress has been working to sow seeds of hatred to save its sinking boat."

Expressing concern over stone-pelting on Hindu processions, Thakur said that strict action should be taken against such people.

However, some state governments looked away and did not take any action in the matter.

The Union Minister referred to a World Bank report that he said has shown that during the tenure of Prime Minister Modi, about 12.3 per cent of the people in the country have been successful in getting out of the poverty line.

Lauding the MP Mobile Health Service, Thakur said more than seven lakh people of Himachal Pradesh have been provided door-to-door free medical services and that was remarkable.