Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
The Congress on Friday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to tell the country whether China has stopped Indian troops from patrolling in certain areas of Arunachal Pradesh.
The demand came amid reports of aggressive Chinese posturing in the state’s Upper Subansiri region and Rahul Gandhi’s allegation a day earlier that the government was trying to hide the matter.
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Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said India stood firmly behind its soldiers and was united against any Chinese aggression, but said the Modi government must answer the reports. There was no immediate reaction from the government and no official word on any such development in Arunachal Pradesh.
In a post on X, Kharge said, “After Galwan, now Arunachal Pradesh? Disturbing reports suggest that China is attempting to push further into areas in Arunachal Pradesh, an inalienable part of our nation.
This demands immediate answers from the PM Modi Government.” Referring to the 2020 Galwan clashes, he added, “Let us not forget that after 20 of our brave soldiers made the supreme sacrifice in Galwan in 2020, none less than PM Modi gave China a ‘clean chit’, emboldening their transgressions! That record inspires no confidence.”
Kharge said, “The Prime Minister, Defence Minister and Home Minister must answer the nation. We have complete faith in the courage and capability of the Indian Armed Forces. India stands firmly behind our soldiers and united against any Chinese aggression.” He also asked whether the PLA had expanded its presence near Taksing and whether India had lost regular access to Shera-5, a designated patrolling point.
He further said, “Why is Indian patrolling reportedly limited during winter in this sensitive sector while the PLA maintains a year round presence? Why are traditional grazing and hunting grounds becoming inaccessible to local communities?” Kharge also asked, “Has the pre-May 2020 status quo ante in Eastern Ladakh been fully restored?” and alleged that the BJP was hiding facts about the situation on the ground and not taking Parliament into confidence on whether India retained full access to all areas and patrolling points it had accessed before May 2020.
Rahul Gandhi had on Thursday alleged that China had stopped Indian troops from patrolling in certain areas along the Line of Actual Control in Arunachal Pradesh and said the government was trying to “hide it”.
On Tuesday, the Ministry of External Affairs said India considers matters relating to border areas with China as “most serious” and asserted that maintaining peace and tranquillity along the LAC is of “utmost importance”, as the state of the frontier will govern the overall trajectory of bilateral ties.
China, on Wednesday, said the situation along the Sino-India border is “generally stable at the moment” while declining to comment on reports of stepped-up Chinese military activity near the Arunachal Pradesh border. The Congress has sought answers from the government on the reports from Arunachal Pradesh, while the Centre has so far not issued any official statement on the specific claims.
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SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
