Updated: September 18, 2020 6:59:27 am
Union Defense Minister Rajnath Singh addressed the Lok Sabha on border tensions between India and the China border (Photo LSTV / PTI)
Underlining that there is a mismatch between what China says and does, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh told Rajya Sabha on Thursday that India will not back down from taking “any big and difficult steps” in its interest, and that there will be no changes to the “traditional and well-defined” patrol pattern of Indian soldiers along the Line. of Royal Control in Ladakh.
“No power in the world can stop Indian soldiers from patrolling,” he said.
Make a statement at home about the situation in Ladakh, two days after he made a similar statement in Lok SabhaSingh said the government wants to assure the country’s 130 million million people that it will not allow India to “bow” its head. At the same time, he said, he doesn’t want to bow anyone else’s head.
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“Yudh ki shuruat toh hamari haath mein hoti hai, lekin uska ant nahin hota hai. Aur mujhe kai baar tajjub hota hai ki shanti ka yeh sandesh jis dharti se poor vishwa ko mila hai, we dharti ki shanti mein vighna daalne ke prayas kiye jaate hain (You can start a war, but ending it is not in your hands. Many times, I am surprised that attempts are made to disturb the peace in the very land that gave the world the message of peace), “he said.
Citing operational reasons for not giving detailed answers to members’ questions, Singh, responding to a query from Congressional Leader and former Defense Minister AK Antony, said there will be no change in the patrol pattern of Indian soldiers.
With all Opposition parties Backing the government, Congress, which had been demanding a full discussion on the issue, did not register any protests.
Singh also agreed with President M Venkaiah Naidu’s suggestion that he consider meeting with some prominent leaders in his chamber and briefing them on the situation on the ground.
“They are all our people. Everyone is interested in the unity, security and protection of the country, regardless of the parties. They must also know the actual position. So when it comes to the suitability of things, if the government also informs them, entrusting them, then that will be an ideal situation, ”Venkaiah Naidu told Singh after his statement.
Earlier, the Defense Minister briefed the House on how and when the current crisis started, and the diplomatic and military measures taken by India to solve the problem.
Singh said that “the situation this year is very different, both in terms of the scale of troops involved and the number of sticking points,” but maintained that India “remains committed to the peaceful resolution of the current situation.”
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He said that since April, India had noticed a “build-up of troops and weapons” by China in the border areas adjacent to eastern Ladakh. In early May, he said, the Chinese took steps to hinder the normal and traditional patrol pattern of Indian troops in the Galwan Valley area, resulting in a clash.
He said that while the Chinese side has taken the position that the situation should be handled responsibly and peace and tranquility should be ensured according to the bilateral agreements and protocol, it is “evident from the Chinese activities that their words do not match. with their actions. ” ”.
“An example is that even when the discussions were ongoing, the Chinese side again engaged in provocative military exercises on the night of August 29-30 in an attempt to change the status quo in the South Bank area of Pangong Lake. But once again, the timely and firm actions of our armed forces throughout LAC prevented such attempts from succeeding. As is clear from these events, Chinese actions reflect a disregard for our various bilateral agreements, ”he said.
“So far, the Chinese side has mobilized a large number of troops and weapons throughout LAC and in the deep areas. There are several friction areas in eastern Ladakh, including Gogra, Kongka La, and the northern and southern banks of Lake Pangong. In response to China’s actions, our armed forces have also conducted appropriate counter-deployments in these areas to ensure that India’s borders are fully protected, ”he said.
Antony asked Singh what he meant when he promised the House that “the government will do everything possible to protect the sovereignty of the country.”
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“You have to clarify. Sovereignty means status quo before as in mid-April. That is the meaning of protecting sovereignty, ”Antony said.
Stating that the Galwan Valley was never a disputed site, he said, “Even in the Galwan Valley, our soldiers are now unable to patrol where they used to patrol before. In the Pangong area too, in more than 8 km of area, they don’t allow us to patrol the area that we used to patrol. Previously, we used to patrol up to Finger Point 8. Now, we are not allowed to patrol there. After these negotiations, I would like to ask the government to allow our Army and the ITBP to patrol up to the points that we used to patrol ”.
Responding to these comments, Singh said that “our former defense minister who I respect very much, Antony Saab, has spoken about the patrol pattern. And he has said that China is preventing India from patrolling. I want to make it clear: that is the reason for the fight, the confrontation. As far as the patrol pattern goes, the patrol pattern is traditional and well defined as well. No power in the world can stop the jaws of India from patrolling. Our soldiers have sacrificed for this. And there will be no changes to the patrol pattern. “
Referring to Singh’s statement that diplomatic and military engagements with the Chinese continue, Congress Deputy Leader Anand Sharma said: “We hope diplomatic channels for disengagement and downsizing will be exhausted” and asked “do we understand that restoring the quo ante status will remain non-negotiable and the ultimate goal for India. “
Singh replied that the position on the status quo has been clarified in his statement and that he has taken “knowledge” of what Sharma said.
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Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, recalling the agreement reached at the Moscow meeting between Foreign Minister S Jaishankar and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on September 10, and also the September 4 meeting between Rajnath Singh and Chinese Defense Minister Wei Fenghe, said: “There was consensus among the Ministers of the two parties, during both meetings, that there must be a rapid and complete withdrawal of troops from all areas of friction throughout LAC ”.
“Both parties should therefore focus on easing tensions in the areas of friction by refraining from any action that could lead to an escalation of the situation. This requires strict adherence to bilateral agreements and protocols and not making unilateral attempts to change the status quo, ”said MEA spokesman Anurag Srivastava.
“As the Defense Minister categorically stated in Parliament on September 15, as well as today, we are committed to a peaceful dialogue with the Chinese side, including through diplomatic and military channels,” he said.
The Chinese side should sincerely work with the Indian side to achieve complete disengagement as soon as possible of all friction zones, including Pangong Lake, as well as reduction of escalation in border areas in accordance with bilateral agreements and protocols on the maintenance of peace and tranquility in border areas. . We hope that the Chinese side will respect and strictly observe the Royal Line of Control and make no further attempts to unilaterally change the status quo, ”he said.
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