Congress denies Rahul Gandhi meeting with Chinese ambassador, calls it "fake news"

The confusion over whether Rahul Gandhi met Chinese ambassador Lui Zhaohui on Friday, continues to rage, as the Congress denied the meeting happening and slammed the media for posting "fake news".

There were contradictory reports in the media, as the Chinese embassy in Delhi posted and then removed contents of a meeting between the two from their website. The Congress is facing flak from various quarters, amid the border standoff between the two countries in Doklam in Sikkim.

Gandhi had earlier tweeted asking why the Prime Minister Narendra Modi was silent on the China issue.

Why is our Prime Minister silent on China?

— Office of RG (@OfficeOfRG) July 7, 2017

Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said that the meeting did not happen, and that the TV channels carrying such reports were airing "fake news".

A wanting to be 'Bhakt' channel will not question 3 Union Ministers visiting China or PM's bonhomie & praise at G20 yet run fake news!

— Randeep S Surjewala (@rssurjewala) July 10, 2017

Surjewala even went on to claim that the Ministry of External Affairs and the Information & Broadcasting ministry were planting such stories in the media.

Before MEA & IB sources plant news with 'Bhakts', they should reverify that we still have diplomatic relations with all our neighbours.2/n

— Randeep S Surjewala (@rssurjewala) July 10, 2017

Surjewala also said that various ambassadors and envoys keep meeting Congress President and Vice President from time to time as courtesy.

Ramya, the Congress's social media head, also attacked the Prime Minister for not bringing up the Sikkim issue when he met President Xi Jinping in Hamburg.

While Chinese incursions were happening, this meeting took place & the #WeakPM didn't deem it necessary to speak about the issue #G20HAM pic.twitter.com/LRdV4eDhwm

— Divya Spandana/Ramya (@divyaspandana) July 10, 2017

Ramya also said that even if Gandhi had met the Chinese ambassador, she saw nothing wrong in it.

Even if Congress VP had met the Chinese Ambassador I don't see it as an issue, but the PM not flagging it in private or public is an issue

— Divya Spandana/Ramya (@divyaspandana) July 10, 2017