New Delhi, August 16 : The Congress party directed its criticism towards the Modi government on Wednesday, concerning the ongoing border situation with China. The party raised queries about when substantive actions will supersede mere rhetoric in safeguarding ‘Bharat Mata’ and when the restoration of the status quo ante at the border will take place.
Referring to reports from the media, Randeep Surjewala, the general secretary of the Congress, highlighted, “Despite 19 rounds of talks with China over the past three years, no resolution has been achieved.”
During a two-day military dialogue, India and China reached an agreement to promptly address outstanding matters along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. This accord, as outlined in a joint statement on Tuesday, aimed to uphold tranquillity and harmony in the border regions.
Although the summary of the 19th round of the Corps Commander-level meeting acknowledged the discussions as “positive, constructive, and thorough,” it didn’t indicate immediate advancements in the withdrawal of troops from the remaining contentious points.
Surjewala asserted, “The situation remains unchanged since April 2020, for three years and three months. Indian forces are unable to access 26 out of 65 patrolling points in the Depsang Plains near the strategic DBO Airstrip or CNN Junction near Demchok. Chinese forces continue to impede Indian soldiers at the ‘Bottleneck’ Y Junction within our territory. Petroling Points 10, 11, 11A, 12, 13 are blocked by the Chinese.”
Questioning the government’s actions, Surjewala inquired, “When will the occupied Indian territory be reclaimed, and when will the Chinese military be pushed back?”
He further queried whether the Modi government had come to terms with the apparent relinquishing of nearly 1,000 square kilometers of Indian territory occupied by China. He referred to Prime Minister Modi’s statement in an All Party Meeting on June 20, 2020, asking if the PM had misled the nation or if he still maintained that “no one entered Indian territory.”
Surjewala highlighted the apparent contradiction between the claim of no intrusion and the ongoing talks with China, as well as the assertion by the Army Chief that Chinese forces have illicitly occupied Indian land.
“When will the Modi Government go beyond verbal assurances and truly safeguard ‘BHARAT MATA’?” Surjewala questioned, emphasizing that the Congress has consistently raised concerns about the government’s handling of the border situation with China.
