Will govt reject Chinese claim to Galwan Valley, asks Chidambaram

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, June 20

Stepping up its offensive against the government after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement on Friday that there was no intrusion in the Indian territory, the Congress on Saturday demanded to know if the government would reject China’s claim to the entire Galwan Valley.

“Even after the PM’s statement yesterday, China has blamed India for the clashes and has re-asserted its claim to the entire Galwan Valley. What is the government’s answer to this claim? Will the Government of India reject this claim?” former minister and Congress veteran P Chidambaram asked.

The Congress leader said the Chinese narrative is consistent with what they have been articulating for the past week, but PM Modi’s remarks have come as a shock.

“The PM says there’s no intrusion in the Indian territory. The PM must then define what Indian territory is,” said Chidambaram.

Urging the government to focus on the present and not on the past, Chidambaram said the Prime Minister’s concluding remarks on Friday had left practically everyone baffled and bewildered.

Also read: After Modi says no incursions, China claims Galwan Valley

Also read: Ready to counter any situation at LAC in Ladakh, says IAF chief

The PM said, “No outsider was inside the Indian territory in Ladakh.”

“It is quite obvious that the PM’s statement contradicts the earlier statements made by the Chief of Army Staff, the Defence Minister and the Foreign Minister. If the PM’s statement reflects the correct position, we would like to ask the government a few questions,” said Chidambaram.

He said, “If no Chinese troops had crossed the LAC and are in Indian territory, what was the ‘face-off’ on May 5-6, 2020?  Between May 5 and June 6, what was the issue on which local Indian commanders were talking to their Chinese counterparts? What was the subject matter of the negotiations between the Corps Commanders of the two countries on June 6?

The Congress leader said if no Chinese troops were inside the Indian territory, where did the clashes take place on June 15-16 and where were 20 Indian soldiers killed and 85 injured?

“If no Chinese troops are in the Indian territory, why did Foreign Minister Jaishankar’s statement and other statements of MEA demand the “restoration of status quo ante”? What was the meaning of “status quo ante”? What was the meaning of the “disengagement” that the government said was “under way”?” asked Chidambaram.

The Congress also asked what the PM meant when he said “sacrifice of our soldiers will not go in vain”.

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