Chinese troops did not enter our territory Says PM Modi
IRA JHA
NEW DELHI : The Chinese neither entered our territory nor has any post been taken over by them, underscored Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the all-party meet to discuss the border incident along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh where 20 Indian soldiers died in the line of duty in brutal hand-to-hand combat with Chinese troops.
“Neither have they intruded into our border, nor has any post been taken over by them (China). Twenty of our jawans were martyred, but those who dared Bharat Mata, they were taught a lesson,” said PM Modi. Underlining India’s might, the PM said no one can take even an “inch of the land”.
“Today, we possess the capability that no one can eye even one inch of our land. India’s armed forces have the capability to move into multiple sectors at one go,” said the PM. He also clarified that the armed forces at the LAC border were given “full freedom for taking any appropriate action necessary.”
The all-party meeting, called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi in the backdrop of the massive military confrontation between India and China in over five decades that occurred between 15 and 16 June.
20 Indian Army soldiers were killed in a violent clash with Chinese troops in Ladakh’s Galwan Valley. The Indian army said 18 soldiers were recovering at a hospital in Leh and 58 were in other hospitals. All are expected to rejoin duty in 7-14 days, it added.
Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee, whose recent interactions with the centre on the corona virus battle have been acrimonious, chose to make a strong statement of support. She said, was a good message for the nation and showed that “we are united behind our jawans”.
Ms Banerjee said her Trinamool Congress party stood strongly in solidarity with the government. “We will not talk anything that gives a wrong message. Queries also we will raise internally. We will not bow down our head to China. China is not a democracy. They are a dictatorship she said.
NCP leader Sharad Pawar stressed that issues like whether the soldiers carried arms or not are decided by international agreements. “We need to respect such sensitive matters,” Mr Pawar said, appearing to make a point about ally Congress’s Rahul Gandhi attacking the government.
Mr Gandhi had yesterday tweeted that soldiers were sent “unarmed to martyrdom”. Foreign Minister S Jaishankar had rebutted him, saying soldiers always carry their arms but the use of firearms is against the established rules of engagement.
Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhara Rao gave a strong endorsement of PM Modi’s policies. “The PM’s clarity on Kashmir has angered China. The PM’s emphasis on Kashmir’s development has also angered China. The PM’s call of AatmaNirbhar Bharat (self-reliant India) has rattled China,” Mr Rao said.
Uttar Pradesh politician Mayawati, the chief of the BSP, said this was not the time for politics and stressed that she firmly stood by PM Modi’s decisions.
Akali Dal leader Sukhbir Singh Badal said during the all-party meet on China that this is not the right time to question the handling of the situation. “India is with the PM. Let’s give the message to China that we are with the PM,” Badal said.
Samajwadi Party MP Ram Gopal Yadav said during the all-party meet on Friday, “Nation is one. China, Pakistan’s intentions not good. India will not be China’s dumping ground.”Yadav also asked the government to “impose 300 per cent duty on Chinese goods”.
Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray while weighing in on the India-China standoff on Friday said, “We are all one. This is the feeling. We are with you, PM. We are with our forces and their families.”
“India wants peace but that doesn’t mean we are weak. China’s nature is betrayal. I want to laud you, Prime Minister, for talking to us. India is Majboot, not Majboor,” CM Thackeray said.
“China’s stand on India is known. India wanted to give respect to China. But what did China do in 1962. There is nationwide anger against China. There should be no differences among us. We are together.”” Chinese products don’t even last long. It is our duty to be one and support the Centre,” Nitish Kumar said.
CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechuri said that India should abide by the principles of Panchsheel. At the same time, CPI’s D Raja said, “We need to resist US efforts to drag us into their alliance.” “Following this, the Government of India should initiate high-level talks, so that steps are taken, including clear demarcation of the LAC, to maintain peace and tranquility on the border,” Yechuri said.
(With Agency Inputs ).
