Opp. backs govt on China, but wants ‘clarity’

Opposition parties, including the Congress, on Friday largely supported the government over any steps needed to be taken to support the territorial integrity of the country in the wake of tension along the SinoIndian border even as they asked why were they not taken into confidence earlier. A controversy was also created when at least three parties — the RJD, AAP and AIMIM were not invited to the meeting.

The RJD protested by writing a letter to the government and its MPs demonstrating within the premises of Parliament House, while AAP Rajya Sabha MP Sanjay Singh criticised the move in a tweet saying though his party was not invited, they will still stand behind the government on this matter.

Congress president Sonia Gandhi, who represented her party through video-conferencing, said: “This meeting, in my view, should have come sooner and immediately after the government had been reportedly informed about the Chinese intrusion on May 5 into several places in Ladakh and elsewhere. As always, the entire nation would have stood together like a rock and fully supported the government of the day in the steps required to defend the territorial integrity of the country. Alas, that was not to be”.

She said that even at this stage, people were still in the dark about many crucial aspects of the crisis. “We have some specific questions, for the government. On which date did the Chinese troops intrude into our territory

in Ladakh? When did the government find out about the Chinese transgressions into our territory? Was it on May 5 as reported, or earlier?

“Does the government not receive, on a regular basis, satellite pictures of the borders of our country? Did our external intelligence agencies not report any unusual activity along the LAC? In the government’s considered view, was there a failure of intelligence?”

She claimed that the Indian government failed to use all avenues and the result was the loss of 20 lives as well as dozens injured.