New Delhi: External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Thursday replied to a tweet by Rahul Gandhi questioning Why Indian soldiers were sent ‘unarmed to martyrdom’ in Ladakh.
He clarified that Indian troops, who got involved in a violent clash with Chinese Army troops at Galwan Valley on the intervening night of June 15 and 16, were carrying arms as a standard practice. The Union minister said the Indian troops, when attacked by People’s Liberation Army soldiers, did not use the arms because of long-standing practice.
Jaishankar tweeted:
“Let us get the facts straight. All troops on border duty always carry arms, especially when leaving post. Those at Galwan on 15 June did so. Long-standing practice (as per 1996 & 2005 agreements) not to use firearms during faceoffs.”
Let us get the facts straight.
All troops on border duty always carry arms, especially when leaving post. Those at Galwan on 15 June did so. Long-standing practice (as per 1996 & 2005 agreements) not to use firearms during faceoffs. https://t.co/VrAq0LmADp
— Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) June 18, 2020
Speaking on the violent face-off between Indian Army and Chinese troops in Ladakh’s Galwan Valley, Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi questioned why Indian security personnel were “sent “unarmed to martyrdom” in Ladakh and asked who is responsible for sending them towards danger.
“China has committed a big crime by killing unarmed Indian soldiers. I want to ask who sent these bravehearts towards danger without arms and why. Who is responsible for this,” he asked in a video message.
कौन ज़िम्मेदार है? pic.twitter.com/UsRSWV6mKs
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 18, 2020
“How dare China kill our unarmed soldiers? Why were our soldiers sent unarmed to martyrdom,” he said.
At least 20 Indian Army personnel, including a Colonel rank officer, had lost their lives in the violent face-off in the Galwan valley area of Ladakh on June 15.
How dare China kill our UNARMED soldiers?
Why were our soldiers sent UNARMED to martyrdom?pic.twitter.com/umIY5oERoV
— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 18, 2020
This comes a day after he slammed Defence Minister Rajnath Singh asking him why he took two days to condole the death of 20 Indian soldiers who were killed in violent face-off with Chinese troops in Ladakh’s Galwan Valley.
The violent face-off happened in Galwan valley as a result of an attempt by the Chinese troops to “unilaterally change” the status quo during de-escalation in eastern Ladakh and the situation could have been avoided if the agreement at the higher level been scrupulously followed by the Chinese side, India said on June 16. (ANI)
