India-China LAC row live updates: Defence ministry slams malicious campaign on status of hospital visited by PM in Leh

Defence ministry slams campaign questioning status of army facility visited by PM to meet Galwan braves

The defence ministry on Saturday slammed the "malicious and unsubstantiated accusations" in some quarters that raised questions about the status of the facility visited by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday to meet the brave soldiers who were injured in the Galwan clashes.

Follow 'raj dharma', tell people about reality of Chinese incursions: Congress to PM

A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Leh and addressed frontline soldiers, the Congress on Saturday said the time has come for him to follow his "raj dharma" and tell the people of the country about the reality of Chinese "incursions".

Defence ministry slams campaign questioning status of army facility visited by PM to meet Galwan braves

The defence ministry on Saturday slammed the "malicious and unsubstantiated accusations" in some quarters that raised questions about the status of the facility visited by Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday to meet the brave soldiers who were injured in the Galwan clashes. "It's unfortunate that aspersions are being cast on how Armed Forces are treated. Armed Forces give best possible treatment to their personnel. It's clarified that the said facility is part of Crisis Expansion capacity of 100 beds and is part of the General Hospital complex," the ministry of defence said. Read more

There have been malicious and unsubstantiated accusations in some quarters regarding the status of the facility visited by the Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to General Hospital at Leh on July 03: Ministry of Defence

It's unfortunate that aspersions are being cast on how Armed Forces are treated. Armed Forces give best possible treatment to their personnel. It's clarified that said facility is part of Crisis Expansion capacity of 100 beds and is part of Gen Hospital complex: Ministry of Defence

The injured braves have been kept there since their arrival from Galwan to ensure quarantine from Covid areas. The Chief of Army Staff General M M Naravane and the Army Commander have also visited the injured braves in the same location: Ministry of Defence

PM Modi 'hesitant' in taking China's name: Owaisi

All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) President Asaduddin Owaisi on Friday slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi for being "hesitant" in taking China's name in the speech during his recent visit to Ladakh. "Prime Minister, it is good that you met our soldiers and the injured soldiers as well. Their motivation will definitely increase by this gesture," Owaisi wrote in a series of his tweets [roughly translated from Hindi]. He also shared a clip where the PM was seen saying that "no one has entered and no one is in our country" [spoken in Hindi]. The former termed it as a "monumental goof-up". "He's saying "mooh todd jawab", but to whom? Why so hesitant in taking China's name? Today's show in Leh proves Dushman [China] ghar mein ghus ke baitha hai (the enemy has entered)," he added. Addressing the PM as 'chowkidar' in another tweet, AIMIM party leader questioned if the former had any idea that India would sustain for 12 days if a full-scale war was to take place.

Ladakh triggers Andamans build-up plans

India is now looking to fast-track plans for basing additional military forces in the strategically-located Andaman & Nicobar archipelago, along with the requisite development of infrastructure, as an effective counter to China’s expanding strategic presence in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). Defence sources on Friday said the long-pending plans for “force accretion” and “military infrastructure development” at the A&N Islands have “gained a sense of urgency” with China’s aggressive and expansionist moves both along the 3,488-km Line of Actual Control as well as the IOR.

PM Modi performed Sindhu Darshan puja at Ladakh's Nimu

During a day-long whirlwind visit to the Union Territory, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday performed Sindhu Darshan puja at Nimu, the forward brigade place in Ladakh. The PM also paid homage to the martyrs at the War Memorial's Hall of Fame in Leh. He later proceeded to Army General Hospital to interact with the injured soldiers in Galwan face-off. Notably, the Sindhu Darshan festival is celebrated along the banks of the river Sindhu in the UT every year on the full moon day. Read more

LAC face-off: Govt rewrites playbook for expansionist China

India has significantly rewritten the long standing premise of its relationship with China. For years, the bilateral relationship centred around an essential delinking of the boundary - seen as "managing" tensions along the LAC - from the larger relationship of trade, investment and increased diplomatic ties. Agreements from 1993 onwards built on protocols for maintaining "peace and tranquillity" on a boundary that is not demarcated, allowing each side to largely patrol its established lines. This allowed other parts of the relationship to move forward, despite doubts and suspicion that lay beneath. This was followed by all governments from Rajiv Gandhi to Narendra Modi. In fact, it was held up as a template to Pakistan that India and China could be mature enough to go ahead with the rest of their relationship and insulate the boundary dispute. Read more

Patriotic Ladakhis are raising their voice against Chinese intrusion. They are screaming a warning. Ignoring their warning will cost India dearly. For India’s sake, please listen to them: Rahul Gandhi

Japan comes out in India’s support on border standoff

In a strong support to India over its border standoff with China in eastern Ladakh, Japan on Friday said it opposed “any unilateral” attempts to change the status quo in the region. After a meeting with foreign secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla, Japanese ambassador to India Satoshi Suzuki said Japan hoped for peaceful resolution of the ongoing border row in Ladakh through dialogues.

Govt rewrites playbook for expansionist China

For years, the bilateral relationship centred around an essential delinking of the boundary - seen as "managing" tensions along the LAC - from the larger relationship of trade, investment and increased diplomatic ties. China’s heightened aggression and the Galwan clashes has undone that template. The Prime Minister’s remarks in Leh sharpened the reversal of that policy, the first inklings of which were evident in the scrutiny of Chinese investments and the political under pinning of the "self reliant India" campaign.

China says it’s not expansionist

PM Modi’s visit to Leh in the middle of the military stand-off seemed to have peeved China with its foreign ministry saying that neither side should take any action that may complicate the border situation and its embassy in India countering Modi’s charge of Chinese “expansionism”. “China has demarcated boundary with 12 of its 14 neighbouring countries through peaceful negotiations, turning land borders into bonds of friendly cooperation. It’s groundless to view China as ‘expansionist’, exaggerate and fabricate its disputes with neighbours,” the Chinese embassy said.

India bringing modern technologies from around world for armed forces: PM

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday told soldiers that modernisation of the armed forces is a priority and that the spending on border infrastructure has almost tripled. Modi said India is manufacturing critical weapons and bringing modern technology from around the world for the armed forces as the government is paying lot of attention for their requirement.

Ladakh triggers Andamans build-up

The ongoing troop confrontation in eastern Ladakh with China is making the defence establishment re-examine Andaman Nicobar Command’s role as India’s crucial military outpost that overlooks China’s critical sea lanes transporting the bulk of its crude oil imports and other trade through the Malacca Strait. These “choke points” of China can be swiftly threatened, if required, by Indian warships and aircraft operating from the ANC.

‘Age of expansionism is over’: PM Modi sends message to China

Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday sent a clear message to China — that India will not back off — by paying a surprise visit to troops at a forward location in Ladakh where he said the era of expansionism was over while adding that the bravery of jawans at Galwan has sent a powerful message about the country’s strength. “The age of expansionism is over. This is the age of development. In the centuries gone by, it was expansionism which hurt humanity the most and sought to destroy it. Those who are driven by expansionism have always posed a danger to the world," the PM said.