New Delhi: Opposition parties Tuesday questioned the ‘silence’ of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on the violent clash between Indian and Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh. They asked the PM and the defence minister to take the nation into confidence on the matter. The ruling BJP asserted that India’s borders will remain intact under Narendra Modi’s leadership.
An Indian Army officer and two soldiers were killed Monday night during a violent clash with Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley. It was the first such incident involving fatalities after a gap of 45 years.
The Army said India lost an officer and two soldiers during the violent face-off, while there were casualties on the Chinese side as well. The extent of casualties on the Chinese side is not immediately clear.
The Congress termed the death of the Indian Army officer and two soldiers in the LAC face-off with China as ‘deeply shocking, horrifying and unacceptable’. The party demanded answers from Prime Minister Modi on how this happened. The Congress also demanded that the government take the nation into confidence and convene a meeting to brief the leadership of political parties about the ground situation.
Congress’ chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said reports of brazen Chinese transgressions at three points in Ladakh into Indian territory since April or May have caused grave concerns as the Modi government remained a ‘mute spectator’.
“To the distress and dismay of the entire nation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh remain absolutely ‘mum’,” Surjewala said.
He said the prime minister and the defence minister must come forward and answer whether it is true that Chinese have killed an officer and soldiers of the Indian Army in the Galwan Valley and whether Indian soldiers have also been critically injured. “If so, why are PM Modi and defence minister maintaining absolute silence?” he asked.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi said words cannot describe the pain he feels for the officers and men who sacrifice their lives for India. “My condolences to all their loved ones. We stand with you in this difficult time,” he tweeted.
The saffron party was quick to react through president Jagat Prakash Nadda. He asserted that the borders of India will remain intact under the leadership of Prime Minister Modi.
“Indian Army gave a befitting reply, but unfortunately, we have lost our three army men. I pay homage to them for their sacrifice and I can assure you that under the leadership of PM Modi, India’s territorial integrity will not be compromised,” Nadda said. “We now have the political will and our Army is fully equipped to take (on) any adversary,” he said.
In a guarded reaction to the border face-off, Left parties said India and China should initiate talks to defuse tensions between the two countries in eastern Ladakh.
The CPI(M) called on the government to come out with an ‘authoritative statement’ to explain what happened in eastern Ladakh’s Galwan Valley. It said that high-level talks should be initiated between the two nations to defuse the situation.
The CPI, in a separate statement, said that it is believed that the present standoff can be resolved through talks and established frame-works agreed by both the countries.
“Any military confrontation between the two major Asian countries not only impacts the cooperation and friendship between the two countries but also can jeopardise the peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region,” the CPI said.
Former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda termed as the violent clash as ‘disturbing’. He said the government should offer a clearer picture to the nation on the border issue.
The Janata Dal (Secular) leader sought to know as to how Indian soldiers lost their lives during a de-escalation process and said Prime Minister Modi and Defence Minister Singh should come out with a clearer picture.
Narendra Modi, Opposition, Congress, China, Indian Army, Face-off, CPI(M)
