Congress seeks discussion on China in Budget session of Parliament

Congress on Friday claimed that a paper submitted by a senior police officer for the DGP-IGP conference "exposed" the Narendra Modi government's "absolute apathy" towards what is happening in eastern Ladakh to the benefit of China and demanded a detailed discussion on the issue in the Budget Session of Parliament starting next week.

In a sharp attack on the Modi government, party's Media Department Chairperson Pawan Khera said the government has a "weak-kneed approach" towards China while asking Prime Minister Narendra Modi he is still "afraid" of China.

Congress' renewed attack on the government on China came as a paper submitted for the DGP-IGP conference by Superintendent of Police in Leh PD Nitya made it clear that India has lost access to 26 of the 65 Patrolling Points (PP) in east Ladakh while the Army is adopting a "play safe" strategy not to annoy their Chinese counterparts is turning once accessible areas into informal buffer zones and thus losing control.

Read | India playing 'safe' on China border: Paper at DGP meet

Khera said the paper submitted for discussion at the conference attended by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Home Minister Amit Shah and National Security Advisor Ajit Doval “revealed shocking facts about the rank apathy” of the Modi government to China's illegal occupation of Indian territory in the region.

He said it "shredded into pieces" Modi's clean chit to China while alleging that the government's "continued denial" of Chinese illegal occupation and construction of infrastructure has emboldened Beijing and compromised India’s national security.

"The Congress asks why after 17 rounds of military talks, the Modi government has not ensured status quo ante even after almost three years of the Galwan clash? Given the fact that a DGP level paper has flagged this highly sensitive issue, will the Modi government tell the nation why it has conceded India’s rightful hold on our territory to China," Khera told a press conference.

He said the Modi government did not heed to Congress' demand for a debate on India-China border row in Parliament. "Will it continue to keep the country in the dark or tell the nation the truth about China's illegal occupation?" Khera asked.

In December during the Winter Session, Opposition parties had sought discussion on India-China border row following clashes between soldiers of both sides in Arunachal Pradesh's Tawang. While Defence Minister Rajnath Singh made a statement in both Houses of Parliament, no discussion was allowed citing sensitivity of the subject.

"India’s territorial integrity and sovereignty is at stake and we should do everything possible, together to uphold it. Enough of 'clean chits' to China, now, the time has come for the Modi government to come clean on China," Khera said.