Swaraj assures use of diplomatic channels to defuse Indo-China Tensions

Top Union Ministers Sushma Swaraj and Arun Jaitley on Saturday held discussions with a second set of political parties on China, assuring them that the government will use the diplomatic channels to defuse tension between both the countries.

The leaders, including former Prime Minister H D Deve Gowda, CPI National Secretary D Raja, Akali Dal's Naresh Gujral and RSP's N K Premachandran, also discussed the developments in Kashmir after presentations were made by Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and Home Secretary-designate Rajiv Gauba.

On Friday, government had spoken to leaders of 19 parties, including Congress, CPI(M), Samajwadi Party and Shiv Sena among others.

Leaders who attended the Saturday meeting said there was unanimous view in meeting that the government should negotiate with Chinese authorities to end the stand off in Doklam.

Sources said Gowda assured the government his support in dealing with China as well as Kashmir issue. "Everybody knows the impact of war. Whatever measures have to be taken (to defuse tension), we have discussed that," Gowda told reporters after the meeting.

"We asked govt to use all diplomatic and other channels to negotiate that stand off should not continue," Raja told DH. Sources said Raja also referred to the government's foreign police moves might have "irritated" China.

RSP's Premachandran told the meeting that the government should keep in mind that it is better to have good relations with neighbours rather than with far away countries. He also argued for concerted diplomatic efforts to mitigate tension with China.

On the Amarnath front, Gauba told the meeting that more than 200 additional companies of paramilitary and three additional battalions of army were provided for the yatra this year. The security arrangements have been reviewed regularly at the Centre and state level.

An official statement said all the parties condemned the Amarnath terror attack in which seven pilgrims were killed.