No power can stop India from patrolling LAC: Singh

Says face-off with China after LAC patrols were disrupted

Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday asserted in the Rajya Sabha that no power on earth could stop the Indian Army from patrolling.

“Patrolling patterns are traditional and welldefined. No force on earth can stop our soldiers from patrolling and our soldiers have sacrificed their lives for that. There will be no change in the patrolling pattern,” he said on the stand-off with China at the Line of Actual Control.

“Face-offs happened because the patrols were interrupted,” Singh said. He said he could not say more due to operational sensitivities.

Singh was responding to a question from former defence minister A.K. Antony. Cutting across party lines, members in the Upper House expressed solidarity and support to the armed forces and the government in the stand-off. Singh said the country had fought many wars and, “however big the challenge, we stand united.”

He said that China had made “provocative military manoeuvres” on August 29/30 in an attempt to change the status quo in the south bank of the Pangong Lake at a time when the two sides were engaged in talks to deescalate tensions. He said there is a mismatch between what China says and does. “Unki kathani aur karni alag hai (their actions are at variance with their words).”

The minister said India and China were yet to resolve their boundary question. “China does not accept the customary and traditional alignment of the boundary between India and China,” he said.

He also apprised the house that China continues to be in illegal occupation of about 38,000 square kilometres of Ladakh. Besides it also holds 5,180 sq km of Indian territory in Pakistan occupied Kashmir that Pakistan had illegally ceded in 1963.

On the latest situation, he said India has noticed a build-up of troops and arms by China in the border areas adjacent to Eastern Ladakh since April.

“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,” he said. Even as this situation was being addressed by the Ground Commanders, in mid-May the Chinese side made several attempts to transgress the LAC in other parts of the western sector.

This included Kongka La, Gogra and the north bank of Pangong Lake. “These attempts were detected early and consequently responded to appropriately by our armed forces,” Singh said. “We made it clear to the Chinese side both through diplomatic and military channels that China was, by such actions, attempting to unilaterally alter the status quo. It was categorically conveyed that this was unacceptable,” Singh said.

Giving details of the talks held with China to de-esclate tension, the minister said India had pressed for three key principles — strictly respecting the LAC, not attempting to alter the status quo unilaterally, and abiding by all agreements and understandings between the two sides.

Given the growing friction along the LAC, the senior commanders of the two sides in a meeting on June 6, 2020, had agreed on a process of disengagement that involved reciprocal actions. “Both sides also agreed to respect and abide by the LAC and not undertake any activity to alter the status quo,” he said.

“However, in violation of this the Chinese side created a violent face-off on June 15 at Galwan. Our brave soldiers laid down their lives and also inflicted costs including casualties on the Chinese side,” he said.

Indian armed forces have during these provocative actions maintained “sayyam” (restrain) and displayed “shaurya” (valour) to protect the territorial integrity of India, he said. “I would like to emphasise, that India remains committed to resolving the current issues in our border areas through peaceful dialogue and consultations,” he said, referring to his meeting with his Chinese counterpart in Moscow on September 4. “I conveyed in clear terms our concerns related to the actions of the Chinese side, including amassing of large number of troops, their aggressive behaviour and attempts to unilaterally alter the status quo that were in violation of bilateral agreements.”

Several Opposition leaders expressed solidarity with the armed forces. “Two words, Jai Hind!” said Trinamul leader Derek O’Brien. Congress members asked the government to clarify the end-game strategy. “The government said it will do everything to protect sovereignty. What does it mean, you have to clarify. Is there status quo ante as on April,” asked Antony.

The former defence minister added, “Galwan Valley was never a disputed site. But even there our soldiers are not being allowed to patrol.”

Leader of the Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad said, “On behalf of my party, I would say at least on this China issue, we stand with the government. There should be no compromise. They should go back to the position where they were in April.” Some members such as Prasanna Acharya of the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and Sanjay Raut of the Shiv Sena cautioned the government while entering into any agreement with China over the present situation.

THE GOVERNMENT said it will do everything to protect sovereignty. What does it mean, you have to clarify. Is there status quo ante as on April,” asked former defence minister A.K. Antony. He added, “Galwan Valley was never a disputed site. But even there our soldiers are not being allowed to patrol.”