China doesn’t accept LAC, border row persists: Singh

Rajnath warns China for stepping up its presence along LAC

In what is being seen as a veiled warning to China amid repeated border violations by its troops, defence minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday said that India was prepared to deal with all contingencies though it remained committed to peaceful resolution of the situation.

Making a statement in Lok Sabha, Mr Singh said the border issue with China remains unresolved as China, historically, “does not recognise the current boundary”.

He said that difference in perception has led to the face-off at the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

“We do remain committed to the peaceful resolution of the current situation. At the same time, the House can be assured that we remain prepared to deal with all contingencies,” the defence minister said.

Asserting that the Indian Army has inflicted heavy losses on the Chinese side during the clash with the PLA at the Galwan Valley on June 15, Mr Singh said since April there has been a considerable build-up of troops and armament by the Chinese side in the border areas adjacent to eastern Ladakh.

In early May, the Chinese side had taken action to hinder the normal, traditional patrolling pattern of Indian troops in the Galwan Valley area, which resulted in a face-off, he said adding that in mid

May, they made several attempts to transgress the LAC in other parts of western Ladakh.

“This included Kongka La, Gogra and North Bank of Pangong Lake. These attempts were detected early and consequently responded to appropriately by our armed forces.

“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,” Mr Singh said.

Opposition Congress walked out of the House after the defence minister’s statement as it was not satisfied with it and wanted to ask certain questions which was disallowed by Speaker Om Birla.

The party has been repeatedly demanding that the government explain the “real situation” in Ladakh.

The MPs staged a walkout when the Speaker refused to allow the party’s leader in Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury to speak. Congress MPs later staged a protest outside the House near the Gandhi Statue outside Parliament.

Former Congress president Rahul Gandhi, who is currently abroad, tweeted: “It is clear from the statement of the Defence Minister that Modi ji misled the country on Chinese encroachment. Our country has always been, and will remain, with the Indian Army.”