New Delhi: Senior Congress leader and former defence minister A K Antony on Sunday alleged that disengagement in both the Galwan Valley and Pangong Tso Lake areas and the creation of a buffer zone was a "surrender" of India's rights. Addressing a press conference, he also said that at a time when India was facing multiple challenges at the border and was facing a two-front war-like situation, the increase in defence budget this year is meagre and insignificant and was a "betrayal" of the country.
The government had on Friday emphatically stated that India has not "conceded" any territory following the disengagement agreement with China in Pangong lake areas in eastern Ladakh.
Antony said he was sad that the Narendra Modi government was not giving proper priority to national security at a time when China was getting belligerent and Pakistan continued to promote terrorism.
He said disengagement was good as it reduced tension but it should not be done at the cost of national security.
"Both disengagements in Galwan and Pangong Tso are a surrender," he alleged, adding that it amounted to surrendering of areas traditionally controlled by India.
"We are surrendering our rights," he alleged, noting that Galwan Valley as Indian territory was never a disputed land even in 1962.
"Disengagement and buffer zone means surrender of our land at the moment," he alleged, while warning that the government is not understanding the importance of this disengagement and creation of the buffer zone.
He warned that China can play mischief anytime by helping Pakistan in Siachen.
"We want to know from this government when there will be status quo ante as on mid-April 2020 in the entire India-China border," he said, asking what was the government's plan in this regard.
He also said that the government must take the country and the people into confidence on restoration of status quo ante at the borders.
He said the government always consulted leaders of all political parties before taking such a decision and must keep national security in mind.
Antony alleged that the government did not increased the defence budget to "appease" China and to give a message that it did not want to confront them.
"To appease China, the government sent a message by not increasing this defence budget that we do not want to confront you. To appease China, we have agreed to disengagement on China's terms," he alleged.
When the whole country is facing serious challenges from both China and Pakistan, the senior Congress leader said the armed forces are demanding support and substantial increase in the defence budget.
"But compared to last year's revised defence budget, this budget has made a meagre and insufficient increase of only 1.48 per cent.
"It is a betrayal of the country. The government has let down our armed forces. The government is not paying proper attention of national security," he further charged.
The government had on Friday emphatically stated that India has not "conceded" any territory following the disengagement agreement with China in Pangong lake areas in eastern Ladakh.
Antony said he was sad that the Narendra Modi government was not giving proper priority to national security at a time when China was getting belligerent and Pakistan continued to promote terrorism.
He said disengagement was good as it reduced tension but it should not be done at the cost of national security.
"Both disengagements in Galwan and Pangong Tso are a surrender," he alleged, adding that it amounted to surrendering of areas traditionally controlled by India.
"We are surrendering our rights," he alleged, noting that Galwan Valley as Indian territory was never a disputed land even in 1962.
"Disengagement and buffer zone means surrender of our land at the moment," he alleged, while warning that the government is not understanding the importance of this disengagement and creation of the buffer zone.
He warned that China can play mischief anytime by helping Pakistan in Siachen.
"We want to know from this government when there will be status quo ante as on mid-April 2020 in the entire India-China border," he said, asking what was the government's plan in this regard.
He also said that the government must take the country and the people into confidence on restoration of status quo ante at the borders.
He said the government always consulted leaders of all political parties before taking such a decision and must keep national security in mind.
Antony alleged that the government did not increased the defence budget to "appease" China and to give a message that it did not want to confront them.
"To appease China, the government sent a message by not increasing this defence budget that we do not want to confront you. To appease China, we have agreed to disengagement on China's terms," he alleged.
When the whole country is facing serious challenges from both China and Pakistan, the senior Congress leader said the armed forces are demanding support and substantial increase in the defence budget.
"But compared to last year's revised defence budget, this budget has made a meagre and insufficient increase of only 1.48 per cent.
"It is a betrayal of the country. The government has let down our armed forces. The government is not paying proper attention of national security," he further charged.
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India facing two front war-like situations from Pak, China: Former Defence Minister AK Antony
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1 Comment on this Story
 | Suresh Kamath19 minutes ago It is TRULY disheartening to hear from Ex-Members who during their Tenure in Office did NOT achieve or try to do POSITIVE deeds for the very Dept now trying to CLAIM that what has been done at the Borders with CHINA is a "SURRENDER " and reflects the Thought processes of their LEADER and mindset of the ISSUE which are attested by the Local ARMY Commander /ARMY CHIEF and also CDS that such deescalation at such difficult Border AREAS have been achieved and yet more is expected and yet want to make FAKE CLAIMS of "SURRENDER" and calling names with unparliamentary words to the PM of the Country amounting to degrading self rather that the Target person and such actions are NEVER under the Principles of FREEDOM of SPEECH or Expression and PEOPLE of the Country would have already taken a STAND against all such VIOLENT war of Words expressed against the ARMY and other Forces who have always SECURED the PEOPLE of the Country and LAID down their LIVES for the FUTURE and Securing us ALL at all times 24 x 7 and 365 days and such words are NEVER in any Dictionary for the PEOPLE who FIGHT the ENEMIES across the BORDER |