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- Published: September 16, 2020 22:21
New Delhi: After briefing the Lok Sabha, Defence Minister Rajnath Sing is all set to make a statement on the India-China border issue in Rajya Sabha on Thursday.
Looking to corner the government, the Opposition has been demanding a discussion on the issue. Sensing this to be government’s weak point, it wants to put the government on the backfoot over the issue.
In his statement in Lok Sabha, Singh had said China’s attempt to alter the status quo along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) was unacceptable.
“Since April, we had noticed a buildup of troops and armaments by the Chinese side in the border areas adjacent to Eastern Ladakh. In early May, the Chinese side had taken action to hinder the normal, traditional patrolling pattern of our troops in the Galwan Valley area, which resulted in a face-off,” Singh said in his statement on the situation on the eastern border in Ladakh.
He told Lok Sabha that the Chinese side has mobilised a large number of troops and armaments along the LAC and asserted that Indian armed forces have made adequate counter deployments in response to China’s actions.
“As of now, the Chinese side has mobilized a large number of troops and armaments along the LAC as well as in the depth areas. There are several friction areas in Eastern Ladakh including Gogra, Kongka La, and North and South Banks of the Pangong Lake. In response to China’s actions, our armed forces have also made adequate counter deployments in these areas so that India’s security interests remain fully protected,” he said.
Indian and Chinese troops have been at loggerheads in Eastern Ladakh since April-May. China, which made incursions in the Indian side, has refused to vacate the locations in the Finger area and other friction points.
Multiple rounds of talks have also failed to yield any significant result in defusing the tensions and now the Indian side is prepared for long-term deployment in the mountainous region.