New Delhi: In a sharp dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, his predecessor Manmohan Singh Monday said the Chinese have been “brazenly and illegally seeking to claim parts of Indian territory such as the Galwan Valley and the Pangong Tso by committing ‘multiple incursions between April 2020 till date’”, adding that PM Modi cannot allow them to use his words as a “vindication of their position”.
“Disinformation is no substitute for diplomacy or decisive leadership. Truth cannot be suppressed by having pliant allies spout comforting but false statements,” said Singh in an apparent reference to Modi’s “no intruder in Indian territory” claim at the all-party meeting on 19 June.
Modi’s remarks triggered a political row, with opposition parties accusing the Prime Minister of not divulging the truth about Chinese intrusions across the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh. The government sought to put a lid on the controversy by issuing a statement the next day claiming that there was a “mischievous interpretation” of what Modi said.
Manmohan, however, said it was the Prime Minister’s responsibility to ensure his words were clear, with no space for misinterpretation. “Those who lead us bear the weight of a solemn duty. And in our democracy, that responsibility rests with the office of the Prime Minister,” the former Prime Minister said. “The Prime Minister must always be mindful of the implications of his words and declarations on our nation’s security as also strategic and territorial interests.”
He further urged Modi to ensure that all “organs of the government work together to tackle this crisis and prevent it from escalating further”. He said the sacrifices of our soldiers cannot be allowed to go in vain.
“We, the nation, lost 20 brave soldiers in the Galwan Valley, Ladakh on June 15th-16th, 2020. They laid down their lives in the ultimate act of sacrifice, valour and duty to our country,” he said in a statement issued Monday. “Our bravehearts defended the motherland till their last breath, and for that, we owe them, and their families, our eternal gratitude. However, their sacrifice cannot be allowed to be in vain.”
Also read: ‘Surender Modi’ tweet intensifies BJP backlash against Rahul Gandhi, Congress & all critics
‘Country must stand united’
Singh further said the entire country must stand together and be united in our response to this “brazen threat”. “We cannot and will not be cowed down by threats and intimidation nor permit a compromise with our territorial integrity,” the former PM added.
“We call upon the Prime Minister and the government to rise to the occasion, to ensure justice for Col. B. Santosh Babu and our jawans who have made the ultimate sacrifice and resolutely defended our territorial integrity,” he said. “To do any less would be a historic betrayal of the people’s faith.”
Even as the government got the support of most opposition parties on the crisis, the Congress asked a few sharp questions. Party president Sonia Gandhi said the opposition is “still in the dark about many crucial aspects of the crisis” and, therefore, urged the Modi government to disclose the sequence of events in Galwan Valley.
Also read: Doklam team of Jaishankar-Doval-Rawat let Modi down but he has an option
The fact that China is praising and admiring Modi’s statement is a sure sign that Modi has played into China’s hands by declaring that there was no intrusion. Correct statement would have been that “There was intrusion but the Chinese were pushed back by the army”. If there was no intrusion, why did the barbaric fight take place on June 15th night. Perhaps, for the first time in his life, Manmohan Singh is right in advising Modi to be careful with words. For the moment, let’s forget that Manmohan Singh became a laughing stock in 2011 by endorsing Pakistan’s anti-India statement at Sharm-e-Sharar!
No where Modi’s comments make them available to any ambiguous interpretation.
It is only Congress, which is preparing arrows for China, to shoot Modi with.
Congress’s hate for Modi, outweighs their love for India.
India is simply a milch cow for them to milk it to the poor country’s last blood drop.
Dr Singh should heed the words of Air Chief Marshal (retd) S. Krishnaswamy “To pressure Modi government and military from our drawing rooms, without knowing what is happening at LAC at 15,000-feet, is an irresponsible act.”.
Duffer imbecile Rahul Gandhi please see read the article which is published on The Print. (Get someone to read it for you, we have doubts if you can read).
When spineless people who have danced to the tune of extra constitutional powers for just enjoying a position stomaching all insults start giving lectures, we do not need to be told why we are where we are.
It is the misfortune of this country that what people understood an economist did not, or was it the connivance in the famous legal plunder and organized loot which was undertaken in the name of the poor, making sure they remained so under various pretexts while the rulers got richer and richer.
You cannot fart against thunder and the lecturer knows it, still he would like the government to spit in the sky hoping that something will fall back on their face.
Wonder if the Government will listen to someone who did nothing post 9/11, built no roads on the borders , because the forces were being made to fight with inadequate and outdated equipment. WHY BECAUSE THE ALL THE MONEY WAS GOING IN the legal plunder and organized loot with the blessing of the lecturer.
Dear Sir, you ( MMS ) kept mum when was time to speak and address nation during your “not-so-bright” tenure in PMO. Why to open your mouth when , according to most of Indians– INDIA IS IN SAFER HANDS , NOW .
you are not a journalist who is paid for writing by those who have lost power and perks in 2014. Keep up high standards expected of a great non-partisan personality.
Are all these problems because Modiji didn’t hug Xi Jinping? ????
Who is anti national now? The leadership which has lost the country’s territory and tried to cover it up, did not take Parliament and people into confidence and constantly exaggerates and tells lies or those who ask the Government legitimate questions?
The BJP and PM have no knowledge of anything, exhibit poor judgement and have no wisdom at all. All they are good at is fighting elections stoking communal passions, making political calculations and telling lies. Unfit to govern India.
Who is the real Pappu now? The person who was part of writing an erudite report warning the Government a full three years ago about China, or the PM who went around hugging world leaders and was caught napping by Chinese aggression?
Wonder if it would have come to this if the BJP had paid attention to governance as much as it focuses on winning elections and managing perceptions.
Dear Government,
The PLA has not come on a visit. Nor have they come for an exercise with the Indian Army. I was told they have clubs with nails. Please don’t send our soldiers without weapons or restrain them from using them. I am told they are aggressive and badly behaved. So please take care.
PS: They may want to invade our country. Beware!
I gave this free advice some days ago, but it didn’t reach them. ?
How about sending one brigade of our finest chaddee walas to the border? ? They can defend India with sticks and stones! They can indulge in their fantasy by lynching people, prove their nationalism and devotion to the country, and serve this nation by unleashing an orgy of violence?.
Does Congress have any credibility left?
These carpet bagger quislings signed a MoU with the Chinese CCP over 10 years ago & sold their black souls; is any more proof required of how deep the rot goes? With every utterance, these Congress turncoats only accelerate their rapid descent into oblivion.
The incursions have been going on for the past 2 months, from the night of April 19. All this denial, obfuscation and cover up is to hide that original sin. This was no intelligence failure. The DIPAC (Defense Image Processing Analysis Centre) would have fed the information to the Government and the Military. RAW and Military Intelligence would have warned the Government too. For some reason (complacency, callousness or general incompetence) it was ignored.
The Indian Army is not battle ready. There is shortage of ammunition, equipment and maybe strategy too. The Army does not have war waging capability because for the past 30 years, it has been focusing on Pakistan and fighting an insurgency in Kashmir, rather than preparing to take on our main adversary China. Apart from this, it was busy showering petals on Covid warriors, building bridges (Elphinstone Railway Station and the Yamuna for Sri Sri Ravi Shankar), and preparing for parades. This was no intelligence failure.
The whole Indian Establishment including the PM, the Indian Army, the MEA are disgusting showoffs. There is a deep crisis in the Republic. When there is a lack of basic integrity, what else can you expect from these modern day Caligulas?
We can now see the vitals of the country have been gnawed away and the Emperor has no clothes.
Manmohan Singh speaks the truth. I couldn’t agree with him more but I feel very sad it has come to this.
When your foreign policy is basically used for self promotion and building a personality cult, it becomes a charade, and normal intricacies of diplomatic negotiations, assessments and bargaining become subservient to your primary need for image building. Modi has been guilty of this. Hence he makes poor judgement calls.
Along with his handpicked, tinpot Generals and “Yes” men bureaucrats who tell him only what he wants to hear, the PM is devoid of good advisors and lives in a bubble. Hence this latest disaster- one only in a series of disasters!
Modi is a headache for India. He is a vain, narcissistic, Machiavellian, megalomaniac- not a safe pair of hands to govern India.
Is he the same person , to whom Porki PM once called ” Dehati Aurat “? None of the Congis have protested against this statement of Porki PM.
The very same people are Advising PM Modi on Security.
Shame on Congis.