An Indian Army convoy moves along a highway leading to Ladakh, at Gagangeer in Kashmir’s Ganderbal district June 18, 2020. (Reuters Photo: Danish Ismail)
India-China border news Live update: As tensions simmer on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh with no talks scheduled between commanders so far, the Congress on Saturday said that the last six years have witnessed the “biggest diplomatic failure” under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. “I don’t think diplomacy and economic blockade will work with China. Quick action is required to resolve the LAC issue,” senior party leader Kapil Sibal said.
Earlier in the day, former Union minister P Chidambaram upped the ante against BJP chief J P Nadda over the saffron party’s claims that the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF) had accepted donations from the Chinese embassy. The Congress leader wondered if Modi could assure the withdrawal of Chinese troops if the organisation returned the donation taken earlier. “BJP President Mr Nadda specialises in speaking half-truths,” he said.
Subsequently, the Shiv Sena hit out at the BJP and asked whether the issue had any connection with intrusion by the neighbouring country in Ladakh and the killing of 20 Indian soldiers. “What do you mean by Congress gets money from China? Instead of responding to the issues raised by Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi over the Chinese incursions, the BJP leaders accused the Congress of receiving funds from China,” the Sena said in an editorial in party mouthpiece ‘Saamana’.
Maxar WorldView-3 satellite image shows close up view of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) border and patrol point 14 in the eastern Ladakh sector of Galwan Valley June 22, 2020. (Maxar Technologies via Reuters)
Congress leader Kapil Sibal today said: "Prime Minister Narendra Modi address the nation and promise to push back anyone who has captured Indian territory. The Prime Minister must come clear on the LAC and publicly condemn the brazen Chinese incursions. I don't think diplomacy and economic blockade will work with China. Quick action is required to resolve the LAC issue."
After Chidambaram, the Shiv Sena today hit out at the BJP over its charge that RGF had accepted donations from the Chinese embassy, and asked it whether the issue had any connection with intrusion by the neighbouring country in Ladakh and subsequent killing of 20 Indian soldiers. The Sena also alleged that those raising questions against the government over the standoff with China were being labelled as Chinese agents by the BJP. "What do you mean by Congress gets money from China? Instead of responding to the issues raised by Sonia Gandhi and Rahul Gandhi over the Chinese incursions, the BJP leaders accused the Congress of receiving funds from China," the Sena said in an editorial in party mouthpiece 'Saamana'. "Will BJP's revelations about the donations stop the Chinese activities along the border? The BJP should tell what connection does these donations have with the Chinese incursion and the martyrdom of 20 soldiers," it added.
The border stand-off with China has made it crucial for India to rethink all its strategic options. Can it use the growing anti-China sentiment across the world to its advantage? The moment seems ripe, writes Pratap Bhanu Mehta, contributing editor, The Indian Express, in his latest column. “The degree of global alienation with the Xi Jinping regime is unprecedented. But can this be translated into concerted global action to exert real pressure on China?” Many strategic experts are salivating at the prospect of India deepening its alliance with the US. In reality, India’s options may be limited, Mehta points out. “It is an odd moment in global affairs, where there is recognition of a common challenge emanating from China, but no global appetite to take concerted action.” Click here to read more.
The Himachal Pradesh Police on Friday arrested a former Congress MLA after booking him for sedition, among other charges, over “objectionable” Facebook posts on the LAC situation in Ladakh. Neeraj Bharti is an ex-MLA from Jawali who has served as the chief parliamentary secretary (education) in the previous Congress regime. Bharti posted four Facebook posts between June 15 and 20 — three written posts and a photographic meme. The posts were critical of the government and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, and were related to the death of Indian soldiers in Galwan and the situation at the LAC.
After sending Beijing a clear message that continuation of the current situation on the LAC will “only vitiate the atmosphere for the development” of relations between the two countries, New Delhi has asked Vikram Misri, Indian ambassador to China, to speak to the top members of the Chinese Central Military Commission to resolve the border crisis. The Indian Express has learnt that South Block feels that diplomatic and military positions have hardened on both sides. It, therefore, wants to engage with the top echelon of the CMC. The CMC is the apex military body of China and has President Xi Jinping as its head and six other members. The CMC of the Communist Party of China (CPC) and the People’s Republic of China (PRC) are actually two separate bodies, with the same 7-member leadership.
Indian-American Congressman Dr Ami Bera on Friday expressed concern over the India-China border row and asked Beijing to use diplomatic mechanisms rather than force to settle boundary issues with the neighbouring country. “I encourage China to use its longstanding diplomatic mechanisms with India to deescalate the situation rather than force to settle boundary issues,” Bera, the longest-serving Indian American in House of Representatives, said in a tweet.
Upping the ante against BJP chief J P Nadda, Chidambaram today said: "BJP President Mr Nadda specialises in speaking half-truths. My colleague Mr Randeep Surjewala exposed his half truths yesterday. Suppose RGF returns the Rs 20 lakh, will PM Modi assure the country that China will vacate its transgression and restore status quo ante? Mr Nadda, come to terms with reality, don’t live in the past that is distorted by your half-truths. Please answer our questions on Chinese intrusion into Indian territory."
Taking to Twitter, former Union minister P Chidambaram shared two images to highlight the differences in the situation along the LAC. "Spot the differences between May 22 and June 22, 2020 on the India-China border," he posted on the micro-blogging site.
Close on the heels of consignments from China reportedly facing customs hurdles at a number of ports, Indian exporters have begun reporting similar issues with their shipments to the neighbouring country. In a recent note to the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, the Federation of Indian Export Organisations (FIEO), which is the apex body of export promotion councils, has said that Hong Kong and Chinese Customs were holding back export consignments from India over the last few days. According to the representation made by FIEO, a copy of which The Indian Express has seen, some exporters have reported facing hurdles with their shipments to China. An exporter in the know said a majority of the shipments stuck for clearance at China and Hong Kong include organic chemicals.
India on Friday warned China that trying to alter the status quo on the ground by resorting to force will not just damage the peace that existed in the border areas but can also have “ripples and repercussions” in the broader bilateral relationship, and demanded that Beijing stop its activities in eastern Ladakh. The only way to resolvewas for Beijing to realise that trying to “change the status quo by resorting to force or coercion, is not the right way forward,” India’s ambassador to China Vikram Misri said in a hard-hitting interview to PTI. Asserting that actions taken by the Chinese forces on the ground have damaged “considerable trust” in the bilateral relationship, the Indian ambassador said it was entirely the responsibility of the Chinese side to take a careful view of the relations and to decide which direction the ties should move.
The government does not expect an early resolution of the two-month-old standoff on the LAC because of a deadlock in both diplomatic and military talks. A senior government official told The Indian Express that the armed forces had been given a “free hand” to deal with the situation and sufficient troops, military equipment and material have been moved to various areas along the 3,488-km-long disputed border with China. The official said that the armed forces had started to move adequate reserves to respond to any further developments despite grappling with the challenge of Covid-19 pandemic.
Another official said that “the Chinese are telling us that they have no intention of going back or restoring the status quo as in April. It is why they have not been interested in discussing any disengagement or de-escalation in Pangong Tso.” “We are also deployed in adequate strength but there are certain tactical restrictions imposed by the local terrain which we are cognisant of. Let me just say it is a challenging area for us,” the official said.
The Chinese army has started consolidating its positions in the Pangong Tso area.This includes undertaking construction of a helipad at Finger 4 and a sudden increase of Chinese troops on the southern banks of Pangong Tso. This has led to apprehensions that the and conveying their disinclination for restoration of status quo ante in the area. An official told The Indian Express, “It is correct that the Chinese have started consolidating their positions on the north bank of Pangong Tso lake. There is a helipad that is now being constructed in the Finger 4 area, which is in addition to all the other infrastructure construction done by them in past eight weeks or so.”
The BJP accused the Congress of advancing Chinese propaganda and peddling "lies and falsehoods" to lower the morale of armed forces, as it hit back at the opposition party after Sonia Gandhi asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take the nation into confidence on the border situation in Ladakh. BJP spokesperson G V L Narasimha Rao raised the issue of alleged donation from the Chinese embassy to the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation (RGF) when the Congress-led UPA was in power and said the Congress has not been able to offer any explanation to people on this extremely "shocking and damaging revelation".
"The Congress has not been able to offer any explanation to people of this country who have been wondering why the Congress is betraying India's interest by acting as a propaganda arm of China," Rao said in a statement. "Rather than answer such serious questions, the Gandhi family is continuing to blabber lies and falsehoods to lower the morale of armed forces and to advance Chinese propaganda," he alleged.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to speak up and tell the truth to the country on whether China has occupied any Indian territory. He said if the Prime Minister says no Indian territory has been occupied by China, while satellite images show otherwise, then China stands to benefit from his statement.
"If you (the PM) say Indian land has not been taken by China and it has actually been taken, then China will stand to benefit," Gandhi said. "Prime Minister ji, speak up and do not be scared. You will have to tell the truth to the country. Don't be scared to say that yes, China has taken our land and we are going to act against them. The whole country is with you."
Stepping up attack on the BJP amid reports of fresh Chinese incursions in Ladakh, Congress president Sonia Gandhi asked the Centre to disclose when and how it plans to push back Chinese troops from the Indian territory. Read more here
Army Chief General MM Naravane has briefed Defence Minister Rajnath Singh about the ground situation in eastern Ladakh. Singh on Thursday returned from Russia where he had gone to attend the Victory Day celebrations. Naravane also came back to Delhi on Thursday from Ladakh, where he was briefed in detailed about the situation on the ground, and also visited some of the forward areas and presented commendation cards to several troops who were involved in clashes with the Chinese in Pangong Tso and in Galwan Valley. Singh is likely to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi later in the day and brief him about the situation.