India hasn't conceded any territory as result of agreement with China: Defence Ministry counters Rahul Gandhi's charge on China

The Defence Ministry on Friday countered Congress leader Rahul Gandhi's charge of Prime Minister Narendra Modi conceding Indian territory to China and asserted that outstanding issues at Depsang, Hot Spring and Gogra post would be taken up within 48 hours of the completion of the Pangong Tso disengagement.

Permanent posts of both sides at the north bank of Pangong Tso are well-established. On the Indian side, it is Dhan Singh Thapa Post near Finger 3 and on the Chinese side, east of Finger 8. The current agreement provides for cessation of forward deployment by both sides and continued deployment at these permanent posts.

"India has not conceded any territory. On the contrary, it has enforced respect for the Line of Actual Control and prevented any unilateral change in the status quo," a Defence Ministry official said in a statement.

Read: PM Modi gave Indian territory to China: Rahul Gandhi

Without naming Gandhi, the ministry said those who doubted the achievements made possible by the sacrifices of the military personnel were actually disrespecting them.

The ministry also countered Gandhi’s claim that the Indian territory in the northern bank of the Pangong lake was up to Finger 4.

"The assertion that Indian territory is up to Finger 4 is categorically false. The territory of India is as depicted by the map of India and includes more than 43,000 sq km currently under illegal occupation of China since 1962. The LAC, as per the Indian perception, is at Finger 8, not at Finger 4. That is why India has persistently maintained the right to patrol up to Finger 8, including in the current understanding with China."

Also read: Rahul making false claims, insulting armed forces, says BJP chief J P Nadda

Earlier in the day, Gandhi asked the government to explain why Indian troops, who through their hard work had occupied Kailash ranges, have been told to move back.

"Indian troops are now going to be at Finger 4. Our territory was till Finger 4. Why has the Prime Minister given Indian territory to China? The Prime Minister and the Defence Minister will have to answer," he said.

"What have we got in return? The more important question is that there is no movement of Chinese back from Depsang and Gogra-Hot Springs. It is clear that the Prime Minister has given Indian territory to China. This is the truth. There is only give and no take. The Prime Minister is a coward who could not stand up to China," the Congress leader said.