Modi government has come out with some clear remarks on the Chinese aggression along the Line of Actual Control (LAC)- effective Sino-India border in Eastern Ladakh.
In a loud and clear message to Beijing, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has said, “India is no longer a weak nation; its power has increased. But we do not want to use this strength to frighten anyone. It is only to secure our country.”
He has also made it clear that the government won’t hide anything. He said, “We will not keep anyone in the dark, neither Parliament nor anyone else. We will disclose everything at an appropriate time.”
This is a clear message to the Opposition leaders like Rahul Gandhi who have been making irresponsible remarks about the border tensions and make believe claims being published by a Business Standard columnist Ajai Shukla, taking jibes at the Indian Army Chief.
Army chief says "a lot of disengagement is happening" between Indian and Chinese troops in Galwan.
For the last month, govt has planted stories that Chinese troops have not crossed into Indian territory. If that were so, how are they "disengaging" now?https://t.co/fSuEJrpBz5
— Ajai Shukla (@ajaishukla) June 14, 2020
Rajnath Singh’s remarks come in the backdrop of constant Chinese belligerence in Eastern Ladakh. There were scuffles between the Indian Army and People’s Liberation Army (PLA) of China troops in Sikkim and Eastern Ladakh last month.
Disengagement happened in Sikkim, but the situation turned into a tense stand-off in Eastern Ladakh. Both sides mobilised troops in large numbers apart from moving in artillery and combat infantry vehicles near the LAC.
The PLA Air Force also flew fighter jets close to the LAC. Chinese aggression is happening in the midst of an exodus of multinational companies from the country and global backlash owing to the ongoing Pandemic.
The Chinese build-up has been centred in four spots- two points in the Galwan Valley region [Patrolling Point (PP) 14] Patrolling Point (PP) 15, Hot Springs area, and the Pangong Tso Lake where a scuffle had ensued last month.
New Delhi and Beijing have been engaging at diplomatic and military commanders levels, and recently Chinese troops pulled back by 2-2.5 kilometres from the Galwan valley, PP-15 and Hot Springs in Eastern Ladakh.
To reciprocate, the Indian Army too pulled back some of its troops and vehicles.
But certain elements in India have been making outrageous claims- some Opposition leaders has been trying to claim that the Chinese troops have occupied Indian territory without any proof to back their outlandish claims.
Rahul Gandhi tweeted, “The Chinese have walked in and taken our territory in Ladakh. Meanwhile, the PM is absolutely silent and has vanished from the scene,” while sharing a story written by propaganda portal The Wire.
The Chinese have walked in and taken our territory in Ladakh.
Meanwhile
The PM is absolutely silent and has vanished from the scene.https://t.co/Cv06T6aMvU
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 10, 2020
71 military veterans have questioned the “motivation” behind Rahul Gandhi’s controversial tweet. But Rahul Gandhi has still not deleted the objectionable tweet.
Setting the record straight while addressing a Jammu & Kashmir virtual rally, the Defence Minister said, “While China has expressed the desire to resolve the (LAC) issue through talks, our effort too is to find a solution to the trouble between China and India through talks at the military and diplomatic levels.”
He added, “In a democratic set-up, we understand the importance of the Opposition and we respect them as well… a dispute has arisen between China and India, talks are in progress at the military level.”
The message is clear- the Opposition is not supposed to give space to conspiracy theories on such a sensitive issue. The government will not keep anyone in dark.
Rejecting the claims of Chinese troops walking into the Indian territory, Rajnath Singh said, “I can say with confidence that we will not do any sort of compromise with our national pride. I assure you about it.”
At the same time, he has also made some passing remarks about Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK)- an integral part of India which is currently in illegal occupation of Pakistan.
The Defence Minister said, “There will be a demand from PoK itself that we want to live with India, and not with Pakistan… wait for things to come… the day it happens, our Parliament’s resolve (on PoK) will get fulfilled.”
Rajnath Singh has thus dispelled all the rumours that were doing the rounds by making it clear that national pride will not be compromised.