New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Friday said neither is anyone inside the Indian territory nor any of our border posts captured, and that India will not cede an inch of Indian land.
Speaking during the all-party meeting convened to hold discussions with the opposition parties over India-China border tensions, the PM said: “Neither has anyone entered our territory nor is anyone in control of our border posts. Twenty of our soldiers were martyred, but they taught a lesson to those who dared to look Bharat Mata in the eye.”
The PM further said the entire country is hurt and angry at the steps taken by China at the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Modi also told the opposition leaders that our armed forces are leaving no stone unturned to protect the country, whether it is deployment, action or counter-action, through land, sea or air. “Our forces are taking the necessary steps to protect the country,” the PM said.
“While on the one hand, the Army has been given freedom to take necessary steps, India has also conveyed its position clearly to China through diplomatic means,” said the PM.
Modi said India wants peace and friendship, but upholding sovereignty is foremost.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also stressed on the fact there was no intelligence failure.
Congress raises questions
The government got the support of the opposition. Right from the BSP, TMC to Shiv Sena, CPI(M) and other opposition parties — all expressed solidarity with the government in the present situation.
BSP leader Mayawati said this is not the time for politics and said she firmly stands with PM Modi on “whatever decisions he takes”.
Congress, however, 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.
The Congress president also listed out a series of questions for the government. She asked: ‘On which date did the Chinese troops intrude into our territory in Ladakh? When did the government find out about the Chinese transgressions into our territory? Was it on 5 May, as reported, or earlier? Does the government not receive, on a regular basis, satellite pictures of the borders of our country?’
The questions also include: ‘Did our external intelligence agencies not report any unusual activity along the LAC? Did the military intelligence not alert the government about the intrusion and the build-up of massive forces along the LAC, whether on the Chinese side or on the Indian side? In the government’s considered view, was there a failure of intelligence?’
Also read: Congress and BJP both want action against China incursions, but only when in opposition
‘Unconditional support’
Speaking to ThePrint, BJD leader Pinaki Mishra expressed solidarity with the government and said: “We stand with the government fully and unconditionally”.
He further said whatever decision the government will take, the BJD will support it, whether it is political, economic or military.
According to sources, when enquired by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee on whether there was an intelligence failure, the defence minister ruled out any such thing.
In a statement issued by the Trinamool, Banerjee, in the meeting, recalled how China has violated agreements in 1962, 1967, 1975, 2015 and 2017.
“If they think they are very powerful and will behave like a big brother, India will not bow down in front of them or any other country. Railways, telecommunication, civil aviation are very important, we should not involve China in these sectors. We might face some problems but we will figure it out with what we have in our country,” she said.
Banerjee further said China is not a democracy, they are a dictatorship. “They can do what they feel. We are a democracy and have to work together. We want peaceful co-existence with all our neighbours, but we cannot ever compromise when our nation’s sovereignty and territorial integrity is violated,” she added.
CPI(M) general secretary Sitaram Yechury said the Modi government should initiate high-level talks so that steps are taken, including clear demarcation of the LAC to maintain peace and tranquillity on the border.
Supporting the stand taken by the Modi government, Yechury said: “In the talks between our Minister for External Affairs and the Foreign Minister of China, our official statement states that at the conclusion of the discussion, it was agreed that the overall situation would be handled in a responsible manner, and both sides would implement the disengagement understanding of 6 June sincerely.”
“Neither side would take any action to escalate matters and instead, ensure peace and tranquillity as per bilateral agreements and protocols,” he said.
“As the government of India has adopted this stand, the CPI(M) extends its support to this approach,” Yechury added.
‘Stop import of non-essential items from China’
Extending support to the NDA government, Lok Janshakti Party president Chirag Paswan urged the PM there is a need to stop import of non-essential items from China. “This will not only make India self-reliant, but will also deal a big economic blow to China,” Paswan told ThePrint.
“On one hand, where the majority of the countries globally hold China responsible for the pandemic, the incursion by its army in Ladakh only reflects the country’s bad intent,” Paswan added.
National People’s Party chief and Meghalaya CM Conrad Sangma, while backing the government, said that infrastructure work along the border should not stop.
“China-sponsored activities in Myanmar and Bangladesh are worrying. The PM has been working on Northeast infrastructure and it must go on,” Sangma was quoted as saying by an opposition leader, who attended the meeting.
TRS chief and Telangana CM K. Chandrashekar Rao said the PM’s clarity on Kashmir, his emphasis on Kashmir’s development and his call for ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharat’ have angered China.
CPI leader D. Raja told ThePrint the status quo before April should be maintained at all costs and Chinese troops would have to pull back.
Also read: India working to restrict Chinese goods, investments since before Galwan, Covid: Officials
Jaishankar’s presentation
In his power-point presentation, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar talked about the history of Indo-China diplomacy, the various treaties and the protocol for border patrols.
He reiterated his stand the soldiers were armed, but according to the protocol in an earlier agreement, no firing is allowed within two kilometres of the LAC.
“A presentation was made by the external affairs minister with a complete detail regarding the chronology of the event and it pointed out how strengthening the infrastructure is required, including roads and bridges,” said a source.
He categorically said there was no intelligence or military failure. He also explained the protocol for exercises and the issues around building of infrastructure near the LAC.
Also read: Chinese media is the superspreader of disinformation: From Covid to Ladakh
No Chinese intrusion as ouf PM has assured us. Only our border might have shrunk. The boys killed b’coz they didn’t remember that our border has shrunk. Hence they were beaten black & blue so much so that 20 of them died& at least 76 seriously injured.
Forget of Ladak .It has has amost gone.Better count days when Arunachal ,Sikim & portions of Uttarakhand will go. HATS OFF to our great generals & politicians .
Let they better do chanting of ‘ Balakot ‘ & terrorism as mantra 24 hrs. All our dream will be fulfilled.
It is time for Traitor Mummy & Duffer Son to shut their mouths & let the Govt & Army to get on with the job. Please understand that some tactical moves and combat plans CANNOT be discussed in public. Rest assured that action is taking place.
Traitor Mummy & Duffer Son are Chinese Agents.
ਮੋਦੀ ਜੀ ਨੇ ਆਰਥਿਕ ਰਾਸ਼ਟਰਵਾਦ ਲਈ ਦੇਸ਼ ਨੂੰ ਸੰਕਟ ਵਿੱਚ ਪਾ ਦਿੱਤਾ ਹੈ । ਸ਼ਹੀਦ ਸਿਪਾਹੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਨੁੱਚੜਦੇ ਲਹੂ ਦੀ ਕਸਮ ਖਾਕੇ ਮੋਦੀ ਜੀ ਦੇਸ਼ ਦੀ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਸਤਾ ਬਚਾਓ।ਨਿਆਂ,ਸ਼ਾਂਤੀ ਤੇ ਖੁਸ਼ਹਾਲੀ ਦਾ ਜਿਉਂਦਾ ਸਬੰਧ ਹੁੰਦਾ ਹੈ । ਖੁਸ਼ਹਾਲ ਲੋਕ ਹੀ ਖੁਸ਼ਹਾਲ ਰਾਸ਼ਟਰ ਦਾ ਨਿਰਮਾਣ ਕਰ ਸਕਦੇ ਹਨ।ਫੌਜੀ ਜਿੱਤ ਤੋਂ ਪਹਿਲਾਂ ਗੁਆਂਡੀਆਂ ਦੇ ਦਿਲਾਂ ਨੂੰ ਜਿਤੋ ਅਤੇ ਮਜ਼ਬੂਤ ਤੇ ਖੁਸ਼ਹਾਲ ਏਸ਼ੀਆ ਦੀ ਸਿਰਜਣਾ ਲਈ ਨਵੇਂ ਵਿਚਾਰ ਦੀ ਸ਼ੁਰੂਆਤ ਦਾ ਮੁੱਢ ਬੰਨ੍ਹਣ ਦਾ ਰਾਹ ਚੁਣੋ । ਇਸ ਤਰੀਕੇ ਨਾਲ਼ ਹੀ ਭਾਰਤ ਵਿਸ਼ਵ ਗੁਰੂ ਬਣੇਂਗਾ।
Soldiers. Pawn in the game!
Nobody died. No land was lost. There are no Chinese or Indians. The entire world is just Maya. Om Shanthi Om.
This is the PM’s “Nobody Killed Jessica” moment. This comment made me laugh. What a bunch of jokers we have for leaders and opposition.
Obviously the PM is speaking a white lie, that there was no intrusion etc. But it will be heartening if he has done so after an assurance from the Chinese that “his lie will not be exposed” – – that, there will be no more intrusion into the Indian territory. Indian side is rightly insisting that the Chinese should go back to April-end position. But if they agree to their today’s location being accepted as the FINAL BORDER, then many Indians like me will say that we should aaccept it. Let bygones be bygones, let’s move on with our lives. It is a barren piece of land anyway.
How can Modi let bygones be bygones when Modi’s stated aim in parliament is capture Aksai Chin. Article 370 was repealed so as to declare Aksai Chin a union territory. Home Minister has declared that Indian blood will be shed to regain Aksai Chin. Even now it is announced that roads and bridges are being built with strategic intent in Ladakh. Fighter Aircraft and Heavy Guns have been moved to forward areas. The sky over Kashmir and Ladakh is filled with the sound of aircraft. To let bygones be bygones all aforementioned things including abolition of Article 370 would have to be reverted. Else the juggernaut of events will roll on relentlessly.Once a juggernaut is in motion it moves under its own dynamics.
Observor, you have “observed” the situation very nicely. Yes, I agree with what you say. In fact I had said in another of my comments that by talking of taking over POK etc Modi-Shah have given a legitimacy to others hegemonic dreams. Everyone is dreaming of capturing something or the other. Let us all agree to make LOC & LAC as international borders. This akhand-bharat nonsense is going to create problems for our own, present, sweet, Bharat or India.
As Pandit Nehru would have said, Not a blade of grass grows on it.
Sir, when Modi has said that, ” …….. India will not cede an inch of Indian land.”, how would he let go a few Sq. kM of Bharat Mata’s land? It is no so much as a small peace of land as it is a matter of India’s pride for him.
If nobody entered Indian territory then why were 20 lives sacrificed? Bengal?
The P.M. has decided to accept General Panag’s advice to make the best of a bad bargain and accept a new LAC for a new India.However LAC like a stream keeps meandering, Yesterday on NDTV (Hindi) I heard the interview of a very simple councillor from Demchok. He said ” Sir they have occupied the area since last year, soon they will occupy the whole of Demchok.” !
Please read the PM’s statement carefully. It states : ” Neither is anyone inside the Indian territory nor any of our border posts captured, and that India will not cede an inch of Indian land.” It doesn’t categorically deny an intrusion by the Chinese into our areas. Ok, no posts were captured and as of now there is no intrusion, but did it happen anytime in the recent past? If the answer is no, what is all about? Why there was a conflict and why did we suffer casualties? Did our soldiers go into the Chinese area and that is the reason, there was conflict? The PM’s statement doesn’t explain anything at all. Is he trying to fool the people?
I may add that the deliberate brevity and ambiguity in the PM’s statement is highly confusing. Is it done with the intention of reducing the gravity of of the situation? Is he telling the people of India that this is a minor incidence, just forget and forgive? The government must come out with a detailed clarification.
“Sab changa si”.
Death of 20 brave soldiers was their fault of crossing LAC. China won the perception war.
The fighting where we lost 20 of our brave army men took place in the Galwan valley. So when our PM modi says China didn’t enter our side, effectively he is accepting China’s line when they claim the Galwan valley as theirs! So much for claims about showing red eyes to China and 56 inch chest.
Yes. 5 / 10 years this sentence will be quoted by the Chinese to claim Galwan Valley.
Looks like PM agrees with China that it was Indian soldiers who entered Chinese territory and attacked their soldiers and got killed in the process. Looks like the PM is laying the groundwork for surrendering even more Indian territory to China, so he can claim China didn’t encroach on Indian territory. China humiliated a bombastic Nehru in 1962. Now it is the turn of a bombastic Modi.
Remarkable! Then is the PM confirming that we sent 20 of army men to China side of the LAC where they were martyred? And actually more, if we include the ones who were captured by the Chinese and released after 3 days?
Is there no limit to the way BJP leadership is willing to prioritize its domestic politics over the country including its security and economy?
Indeed. All this discussion about LAC etc is without any basis. Sab Changa Si. Chinese president Xi Jinping will soon be coming for his next annual trip to Ahmedabad, and Modiji will feed him fafda and take him to show worlds tallest statue, to showcase the might of India. Meanwhile, we should continue to watch 9 pm serials on DD and come out on balconies for banging utensils whenever Modi ji asks us to do so. Hai to Mumkin hai Bhai!
Firing is not allowed within two kilometres of the LAC, that is true. Is bludgeoning to death of a Commanding Officer, followed by his soldiers, permitted …
Nobody seems to be interested in what I write here. But let me still do it, as I follow news only on “The Print” these days.I do not have a TV connection at home now.
What you could have added is that when China was under attack from many countries for its handling the COVID-19 (originated in Wuhan) virus, in early April I think, Xi had addressed the Polit Bureau of the Commmunist Partyof China, in which he asked its Defence forces to be prepared for war. Primariy this is a follow up of that plan to invoke Nationalism and distract attention form National and International critism of its handling the Virus. LAC is a low hannging fruit (actually many fruits) to be plucked at any time.
But frankly, how deeply is that man on the street interested, especially in the ever changing LAC (contested means, just that) – a couple of kilometers here and there. The whole situation is nebulous all along the LAC. Then we are dealing with China. Can you ever believe the Chinese to stick with agreements.
The Nation should not get distracted. Let the authorities handle these matters. A ball by ball commentary is not required. After all it is our Government and Our Armed Forces. They will forsake the Nation. As to making mistakes… well – we definitely should not repeat our mistakes.
WHO is to blame for this situtaion? All those responsible for resolving the issue, who are now coming on prime time TV as “experts” – retired bureacrats, foreign secretaries, senior Genrals, Defenece “experts” who have been “experts” for a long long time, All PMs and DMs and the media who never pressured the Government to resolve the isssue. All of them did nothing to resolve the situatuion and let it simmer…. so to speak. So all should stop this bickering and get together to straighten the unfinished job.
Chinese Govt should take the attempt of intrusion by Indian troops into Chinese territory to international arena. Their bollywood drama led to bloodshed.
Shocked.