Word 'pitai' should not be used for our jawans: External affairs minister Jaishankar objects to Rahul Gandhi's remarks on soldiers at China border

NEW DELHI: External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Monday objected to Rahul Gandhi's remarks on border standoff with China and said "we should not disrespect our jawans."
"The word 'pitai' should not be used for our jawans," Jaishankar said in Lok Sabha responding to Rahul's attack over the government doing nothing to counter China's aggression at the border.
Addressing a presser on the 100th day of his Bharat Jodo Yatra, Rahul Gandhi had said "the Chinese soldiers were beating up our jawans in Arunachal Pradesh."

The former Congress president had further said: "The threat from China is clear. They are making offensive preparations for war, not incursions. I have been saying this for the last two years, but the government is trying to hide this or is ignoring it. However, this threat can neither be hidden nor ignored."
Rahul Gandhi had also said that external affairs minister needs to deepen his understanding on the issue.
"They keep making statements, I see the external affairs minister keeps making remarks, I should not say it, but he should deepen his understanding,” he had said.

Jaishankar responded to this with a swipe and said: "I have heard that my own understanding needs to be deepened. When I see who is giving the advice I can only bow & respect."
Last week, several Union ministers and BJP leaders hit back at Rahul for his remarks about the Arunachal incident.
Union minister Kiren Rijiju accused Rahul of "insulting" the Army and damaging nation's image.

He added that the former Congress chief has "become a huge embarrassment for the country."
Defence minister Rajnath Singh said that Rahul's remarks were in bad taste.
Union minister Anurag Thakur accused Rahul of "spreading fear" in the name of China and wondered whether the opposition leader had lost faith in the armed forces.

Meanwhile, opposition parties have been targeting the government over the border standoff with China and have been insisting for a debate in Parliament.
Defence minister Rajnath Singh had made a statement in both the Houses over the latest round of standoff in Tawang. However, the government has refused to allow a debate on the issue.
(With inputs from agencies)