A lame attempt to obfuscate truth: Cong

PMO clarification of Chinese incursion

In a strong rebuttal to the Prime Minister's Office (PMO) clarification that the Prime Minister's statement related to the post-June 15 scenario, the Congress on Saturday dismissed it as "clearly a lame attempt to obfuscate the truth" and urged the Prime Minister to follow 'Raj Dharma' and rise to the challenge of protecting ' National Security' and 'Territorial Integrity.'

Party chief spokesman Randeep Singh Surjewala said the PMO and the Government need to first clearly state their position on the Galwan Valley. Is Galwan Valley not part of Indian territory? Why is Government not coming forward and strongly rebutting the Chinese claim over Galwan Valley? If Chinese troops are present there, does it not amount to intrusion into and occupation of the Indian territory? Also, why is the Government silent on intrusions in the Pangong Tso area?

"The PMO's statement belittles the gravity of the situation on the India-China LAC. Security Experts, Army Generals and Satellite Imagery have confirmed not only one intrusion on June 15, 2020 but several intrusions into and occupation of Indian territory in the Ladakh area," Surjewala said in a rejoinder.

"The Prime Minister's observations that "there was no Chinese presence on our side of the LAC pertained to the situation as a consequence of the bravery of our armed forces.” Clearly, the implication is that there was one intrusion on June 15 and it was repulsed, he said.