BJP MP Nishikant Dubey has stirred political waters by revisiting a decades-old controversy, accusing former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi of ceding Indian territory to Pakistan following the 1965 war.
In a post on the social media platform X, Dubey referred to the international arbitration over the Rann of Kutch border dispute, calling it a “very painful” episode. He claimed the Congress-led government “auctioned” national land under international pressure, despite objections from Parliament.
“Today’s story is very painful. After winning the 1965 war, the Congress party gave away 828 square kilometres of the Rann of Kutch in Gujarat to Pakistan in 1968,” Dubey wrote.
“We internationalised the issue and appointed Yugoslav lawyer Ali Babar as mediator. The entire Parliament opposed the move, but Indira Gandhi—the so-called Iron Lady—surrendered our land out of fear. This is the truth of the Iron Lady. Congress’s hand has always been with Pakistan,” he added.
Dubey’s remarks refer to the 1968 verdict by an international tribunal established to resolve the India-Pakistan Western Boundary Case. The tribunal, formed after both nations agreed to settle the dispute through arbitration, awarded approximately 90% of the contested territory to India, with around 10%—roughly 828 sq km—going to Pakistan.
The arbitration was seen at the time as a diplomatic compromise aimed at de-escalating tensions along the western border and resolving long-standing territorial disagreements, including those near Sir Creek.
While the tribunal’s decision was accepted by both countries as a step toward peace, Dubey has framed it as a leadership failure. He alleged that Indira Gandhi capitulated to international pressure and portrayed the episode as a betrayal of national interest. He also shared a document on X to support his claims that India relinquished 828 sq km of land.
The BJP MP’s comments come amid rising political tensions and are likely to reignite debate over historical decisions taken during the Congress era.
Though the boundary award has remained largely uncontested in the years since, Dubey’s remarks inject new political significance into an old geopolitical compromise, casting a critical light on one of India’s most iconic leaders.
Amid the political showdown over India ‘informing’ Pakistan ahead of military strikes on May 7, BJP MP Nishikant Dubey on Friday dug out a document from the past, about India-Pakistan military 1991 pact, highlighting how the then government entered into an agreement with enemy nation and agreed to share information beforehand.
On Friday, the BJP lawmaker took to X and slammed Rahul Gandhi and Congress over their duplicity over two nations striking a ceasefire ‘understanding’ after the Operation Sindoor.
Sharing the document, he wrote, “Rahul Gandhi ji, this is an agreement made during the time of your government. In 1991, your party-supported government made an agreement that India and Pakistan will exchange information about any attack or army movement. Is this agreement treason?”
“Congress stands with Pakistan, does it suit you to make objectionable comments on own Foreign Minister,” he asked.
Nishikant Dubey slammed the Congress party for its attempts to project its former Indira Gandhi as ‘stronger force’ than PM Modi and said, “It is the Congress party and govt which surrendered to Pakistan.”
