New Delhi: The Congress Friday stepped up its attack on the Narendra Modi government for its silence on the recent face-offs between Indian security forces and the Chinese troops in Arunachal Pradesh, with party general secretary Jairam Ramesh accusing the government of keeping silent on the developments.
“While the self-styled Vishwaguru’s calibrated concessions to China continue, the DG, ITBP, has lauded—and rightly so—its performance in recent face-offs with the PLA in Arunachal Pradesh, on which there has been a deafening silence from the PM and his establishment,” Ramesh said in a post on X.
“Corps commander talks were held at Wacha and Damai in Arunachal Pradesh last month after the Taksing face-off. Locals had reported that patrolling points had been lost once again, as in Ladakh. China continues to rename our towns in Arunachal Pradesh and is building a 60,000-MW dam that threatens our ecological and water security,” he said.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also posted: “Enough clean chits to China. PM Modi must come clean before India!”
Jairam Ramesh also flagged India’s growing trade deficit with China, which he said had reached a record $112 billion in 2025-26, up from $99 billion the previous year.
“This has simply crushed our MSMEs in many industries. Make in India has become Import from China. This staggering trade deficit is in itself a very significant threat to our economic security,” he said.
He further invoked Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 19 June 2020 statement, days after 20 Indian soldiers were killed in the Galwan Valley clash.
“India is still paying the price for the Prime Minister’s infamous clean chit to China on 19 June 2020. After the martyrdom of our 20 brave soldiers, the Prime Minister had stated: No one has entered our border there, nor is anyone present inside, nor have any of our posts been captured by anyone else.” he said on X.
Jairam Ramesh also cited former Army chief General M. M. Naravane’s account of the instructions he received during the Chinese incursions in Ladakh: “Do whatever you think is appropriate.”
He also questioned the government’s handling of China’s role during Operation Sindoor, citing Deputy Chief of Army Staff Lt. Gen. Rahul Singh’s 4 July 2025 remarks on China’s involvement in Pakistan’s military campaign.
“Yet, on 25 August 2026, the retired Chief of Defence Staff, Gen. Anil Chauhan, publicly contradicted Lt. Gen. Rahul Singh’s revelations and, soon thereafter, took over a think tank that is a key part of the RSS/BJP ecosystem,” he said.
ITBP Director General Shatrujeet Kapur Thursday confirmed that confrontations with Chinese troops were continuing at several locations along the Arunachal Pradesh border, even during the BRICs summit.
“In the past few days, a situation arose where face-off happened at several locations in Arunachal and it still continues,” Kapur said at the Himveer Samman Samaroh in Rajasthan.
“The weapons used by the ITBP are 50-years-old and modernisation is required, drones are something through which a even a small country can challenge a big country. We have to go towards drones and anti-drone systems. Underground shelters are key to new warfare. Anything overground can be a target. In hot-war situations, underground shelters are a priority.” he added
The face-offs near Taksing in Arunachal Pradesh’s Upper Subansiri district began in late July, when Indian and Chinese troops came face to face during routine patrolling near Maja. Chinese troops returned in larger numbers days later and pitched tents around 6-7 km within the Line of Actual Control (LAC). India has since increased its deployment along the border.
The confrontations have continued despite diplomatic and military engagements between the two countries, including the 6 August meeting of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China Border Affairs, Special Representatives’ talks in Beijing on 26 August and Corps Commander-level talks in the eastern sector in September.
Face-offs also continued around the time Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Delhi from 11 to 13 September for the BRICS Summit.
(Edited by Viny Mishra)
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