‘Ladakh situation as bad as during Indo-china War’

MUMBAI: The Shiv Sena on Friday said that the situation in Ladakh is as severe as it was in 1962, referring to the Indo-china War which took place that year.

In an editorial in mouthpiece Saamana, the party said that a “feel-good atmosphere” was created in the country saying that Chinese troops have retreated in the Galwan Valley but the guns are still pointed at each other. It added that the Chinese actions or intentions have not changed.

The editorial cited External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s recent interview to a news portal stating that is “surely the most serious situation after 1962”.

The editorial said that the Army is stationed from Ladakh to Arunachal Pradesh along the China border. “The Army is fully prepared. The Army chief visited all the border areas. The Prime Minister too visited Ladakh and boosted the morale of the jawans.”

In an editorial titled, ‘The reality of Ladakh”, it said, “The Chinese dragon’s actions there have not stopped, nor have their intentions changed. The Chinese Army and Indian Army may be holding discussions, but the guns of the two countries are stacked on each other along the

Ladakh border. India is saying that China withdrew from Ladakh, while China is saying that India too should move from ‘Finger Four’ [ridgeline] to its border first, which is naturally unacceptable to India.”

The editorial asserted that the Indian Army will not allow a repeat of was happened in 1962. “Today’s India is not that of 1962. It is much more powerful than that. Despite acknowledging this, Chinese infiltration and land-grabbing activities have not reduced. Indian Army will not allow a repeat of the history of 1962. The situation in Ladakh currently is as severe as that of 1962. We cannot deny that,” it said.