North News
New Delhi, February 3
Congress MP and Leader of Opposition in the Lok Sabha, Rahul Gandhi, raised concerns in Parliament on Monday regarding India’s dependence on Chinese products, labeling it a significant national security risk. Gandhi linked the failure of the ‘Make in India’ initiative to China’s increasing presence within Indian borders. “Our Chief of Army Staff has confirmed that Chinese forces are inside our territory, and this is an undeniable fact,” Gandhi said. He emphasized that the ongoing presence of Chinese forces in India was a direct result of India’s failure to foster domestic production. “The reason China is inside our territory is because ‘Make in India’ has failed. India’s refusal to produce domestically has allowed China to assert its presence,” he added.
Gandhi further criticized India’s lack of data for artificial intelligence (AI), asserting that AI’s potential is hindered without production data. “AI alone is meaningless without data. In India, consumption data is controlled by the U.S. through companies like Google, Facebook, and Instagram. For India to leverage AI, we need access to production data, which we currently do not have,” he said.
He called for a shift in educational priorities, urging that schools teach children about the fundamentals of batteries, electric motors, drones, robots, and electric vehicles. “We must build a production network and focus on areas where India can catch up to China. China has a ten-year head start in developing technologies like batteries and robotics,” Gandhi explained.
On India’s relationship with the U.S., Gandhi advocated for stronger collaboration, stating that the U.S. cannot build an industrial system without India. “The U.S. needs India. Their cost structures are too high to compete with India’s capabilities. We can build products that the U.S. would never envision,” he said.
Gandhi also outlined what he sees as a failure in organizing production in India, highlighting that most modern production systems are outsourced to China. He criticized India’s dependence on China for manufacturing, particularly in the mobile phone industry, where components are largely sourced from China.
“Our country has failed in organizing production. While companies like Mahindra, Tata, and Bajaj excel, the nation has handed production over to China. India must focus on building its own manufacturing capabilities, or we will face growing deficits, inequality, and social unrest,” Gandhi warned.
