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Tag: India China clash

  • India-China military talks last for around 16 hours

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: India and China held extensive deliberations on expanding the disengagement process in eastern Ladakh at the 10th round of the military talks that lasted for around 16 hours, official sources said on Sunday.

    The Corps Commander-level talks at the Moldo border point on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control began at around 10 am on Saturday and ended at 2 am on Sunday, they said.

    The sources said the focus of the talks was to take forward the disengagement process in friction points like Hot Springs, Gogra and Depsang in eastern Ladakh.

    However, there was no official word on the talks so far.

    The talks took place two days after both militaries concluded withdrawal of troops and weapons from North and South banks of Pangong Tso in the high-altitude region.

    In the talks, India is learnt to have insisted on a faster disengagement process in areas like Hot Springs, Gogra and Depsang to bring down tension in the region.

    On Saturday evening, sources had said that bringing down the tension in the region was the broad priority of the talks.

    ALSO READ: Uphill task for India in other Ladakh sectors

    India has all along been maintaining that disengagement at all the friction points was necessary to de-escalate the situation in the region.

    On February 11, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced in Parliament that India and China reached an agreement on disengagement in the North and South banks of Pangong lake that mandates both sides to “cease” forward deployment of troops in a “phased, coordinated and verifiable” manner.

    Under the agreement, he said China will pull back its troops to east of Finger 8 areas in the northern bank of Pangong lake while the Indian personnel will be based at their permanent base at Dhan Singh Thapa Post near Finger 3 in the region.

    ALSO READ: After months of denial, China accepts its four soldiers were killed in Galwan Valley clash; releases video

    Similar action would take place on the south bank of the lake as well, he said.

    The sources said troops of both sides have retreated to positions in line with the agreement.

    The disengagement process began on February 10.

    The Indian delegation at Saturday’s talks was led by Lt Gen PGK Menon, the Commander of the Leh-based 14 Corps.

    In his statement in Parliament, the defence minister also said that it was agreed to convene the next meeting of senior commanders of both sides within 48 hours of completion of the disengagement in the Pangong lake areas so as to resolve all other remaining issues.

    ALSO READ: Artillery Guns moved back, bunkers brought down by PLA

    Days later, the defence ministry said other outstanding “problems” including in Depsang, Hot Springs and Gogra will be taken up at the upcoming talks between military commanders of the two countries.

    The border standoff between the Indian and Chinese militaries erupted on May 5 following a violent clash in the Pangong lake areas and both sides gradually enhanced their deployment by rushing in tens of thousands of soldiers as well as heavy weaponry even as the two sides continued military and diplomatic talks.

    Last year, the Chinese military built several bunkers and other structures in the areas between Finger 4 and 8 and had blocked all Indian patrols beyond Finger 4, triggering strong reaction from the Indian Army.

    In the nine rounds of military talks, India had specifically insisted on withdrawal of Chinese troops from Finger 4 to Finger 8 on the North bank of Pangong Lake.

    The mountain spurs in the area are referred to as Fingers.

    On its part, the Chinese side was insisting on withdrawal of Indian troops from several strategic peaks on the southern bank of the lake.

    Around five months back, Indian troops occupied a number of strategic heights in the Mukhpari, Rechin La and Magar hill areas around the southern bank after the Chinese PLA attempted to intimidate them in the area.

  • Uphill task for India in other Ladakh sectors

    Express News Service
    NEW DELHI:  At a time when disengagement of PLA and Indian Army along the Pangong Tso is complete,  former army officers advised caution instead of trusting blindly agreements with China.

    These officers believe China has pushed in a lot of force and equipment to convey a message and the trickier phase begins now, as India has to handle negotiations with maturity and pragmatism.

    Lt Gen HS Panag (Retd), a former Northern Army Commander, said China is forcing others to accept it is the domineering power in Asia. Also, because they felt threatened by the development of infrastructure on the Indian side, India may plan action from the Aksai Chin side.

    ALSO READ: After months of denial, China accepts its four soldiers were killed in Galwan Valley clash; releases video

    “By developing the Darbuk-Shyok-Daulat Beg Oldi (DSDBO) highway, we were building lateral routes towards the LAC,” said Lt Gen Panag.

    Adding that the Chinese were farsighted in persisting with the 1959 claim line, as it keeps them in an advantageous position, Lt Gen Panag said: “They chose the LAC in such a way that their positions are at the points of advantage and can dominate in future.”

    ALSO READ: Artillery Guns moved back, bunkers brought down by PLA

    The PLA has denied India access to the patrolling points in Y Junction in Depsang. It has also blocked additional movement towards Hot Spring. Lt Gen DS Hooda (Retd), another former Northern Army Commander, identifies Depsang as the trickiest point.

    “Both sides have their claims in this area and this will take a lot of negotiations.”

    Sub Sector North, of which Depsang is a part, is strategically most important. The terrain is such that large-scale armour operations is possible. China has multiple roads feeding this area while India has only the DSDBO road. By sitting at the Y Junction, China can obstruct India’s movement.

    ALSO READ: Relationship with China cannot be normal without peace in border areas, says Harsh Vardhan Shringla

    Depsang is also a link towards Siachen and the DBO airfield. Indian Army occupying the Kailash Range has been an important turning point, feels Lt gen Hooda and Lt Gen KJS Pannu, a former 14 Corps Commander.

    They say China did not expect India to do that. Calling the disengagement Pangong Tso-centric,  Lt Gen Pannu feels China cannot be trusted.

    “What guarantee can we have when China breached all five agreements signed since 1993. They may go back, re-strategize, replan, retrain, reequip, lull us into complacency and surprise us.”

    ALSO READ: China says disengagement of Chinese, Indian troops in eastern Ladakh going on smoothly

    By all estimates, this is going to be a long affair. It’s time to be ready and arm, train and equip our soldiers to deal with surprises in the future. 

    Power points of  East Ladakh

    PPs are patrolling points identified and marked on the LAC where regular patrolling is done to assert the physical claim about the LAC

    As per general estimates, G 219 (Tibet- Xinjiang Highway) is at a distance of less than 4 hours from Depsang 

    The average altitude ranges from 14,000 ft to 18,000ft. There are valleys and plains which allow fast movement of vehicles

    Y Junction

    About 20kms from strategic airfield Daulat Beg Oldi. PLA blocking around 100 sq kms in this area as India is unable to patrol points 10, 11, 11A, 12 & 13 (avg distance between points 10-15 kms)

    Galwan

    Indian Army went around 80 kms inside in 1962. This time, PLA is blocking Indian Army on LAC, going by the 1959 claim line. Disengagement took place after the June 15 clashes

    Hot spring & Gogra

    Occupied by PLA to create pressure on Indian Army and have an edge during negotiations

    Finger 4

    Strategically important. Movement towards rest of the Fingers & another route to Galwan blocked by PLA at this point

  • India has not conceded any territory in disengagement agreement with China in Pangong Tso: MoD

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The government on Friday emphatically stated that India has not “conceded” any territory following the disengagement agreement with China in Pangong lake areas in eastern Ladakh as political sparks flew thick and fast over the pullback process.

    Hours after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged that the government has “ceded” Indian territory to China and raised questions over the agreement, the Ministry of Defence (MoD) as well as the BJP came out with a hard-hitting response.

    A MoD statement said that on the contrary India has enforced observance and respect for the Line of Actual Control(LAC) and prevented any unilateral change in the status quo.

    It said those who doubt the achievements made possible by the sacrifices of the country’s military personnel are actually disrespecting them while BJP president J P Nadda asserted that Gandhi’s claim was an “insult” to the armed forces who are leading the disengagement strategy.

    ALSO READ: Disengagement process on in Pangong Tso areas – Sources

    Nadda also wondered why Gandhi was bent upon making a false claim that the disengagement is a “loss’ for India, and asked is it a part of “INC-China MoU”.

    The BJP chief took a jibe at Gandhi saying there is a new edition of “Congress circus” today and it is again due to the Congress leader.

    The war of words erupted a day after Defence Minister Rajnath Singh announced in Parliament that India and China have reached an agreement on disengagement in the North and South banks of Pangong lake in eastern Ladakh that mandates both sides to “cease” forward deployment of troops in a “phased, coordinated and verifiable” manner.

    The agreement signalled a breakthrough in defusing the nine-month border standoff in Ladakh.

    In the statement countering Gandhi’s claims, the MoD said the assertion that Indian territory is up to Finger 4 in the northern bank of Pangong lake is categorically false, adding the permanent posts of both sides in the area are “longstanding and well-established”.

    ALSO READ: Rahul attacks govt on LAC disengagement with China, alleges PM ‘ceded’ Indian territory; MoD denies

    The mountain spurs in the region are referred to as Fingers.

    “Even the Line of Actual Control (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 upto Finger 8, including in the current understanding with China.”

    The MoD further said the territory of India is as depicted in the map of India and includes more than 43,000 sq km currently under illegal occupation of China since 1962.

    “India has not conceded any territory as a result of the agreement. On the contrary, it has enforced observance and respect for LAC and prevented any unilateral change in the status quo,” it added.

    The ministry also asserted that permanent posts of both sides at the north bank of Pangong Tso are longstanding and 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 MoD said, adding the current agreement provides for cessation of forward deployment by both sides and continued deployment at these permanent posts.

    ALSO READ: US welcomes efforts by India and China to de-escalate situation in eastern Ladakh

    In his statement giving details of the agreement, Defence Minister Singh had said China will pull back its troops to east of Finger 8 areas in the northern bank of Pangong lake while the Indian personnel will be based at their permanent base at Dhan Singh Thapa Post near Finger 3 in the region.

    Singh had also assured Parliament that India has not conceded anything in the sustained talks with China and it will not allow even an inch of its territory to be taken away by anyone.

    The MoD statement said it has taken note of some “misinformed and misleading” comments being amplified in the media and on social media regarding the disengagement currently underway at Pangong Tso, asserting it is necessary to set the record straight and counter certain instances of wrongly understood information.

    It further said the defence minister’s statement also made clear that there are outstanding issues to be addressed, including at Hot Springs, Gogra and Depsang, adding they are to be taken up within 48 hours of the completion of the Pangong Tso disengagement.

    Addressing a press conference, Rahul Gandhi questioned why the Prime Minister did not make a statement on the LAC situation, and said Singh “sheepishly” made a statement on the issue in both Houses of Parliament.

    “The Prime Minister should say – I have given Indian land to China, this is the truth,” he said targeting Modi.

    ALSO READ: Surprise disengagement in Ladakh as China, India pull back combat vehicles

    He said it has emerged that Indian troops are now going to be stationed at Finger 3 at Pangong Tso lake.

    “Finger-4 is our territory, that is where our post used to be. So, now we have moved from Finger-4 to Finger-3.

    Why has Prime Minister Modi given up Indian Territory to the Chinese? This is the question that needs to be answered by him and by the Defence Minister,” Gandhi said.

    He asked why have Indian troops, after the hard work that they had done in capturing Kailash ranges been asked to move back.

    “What has India got in return for this? Most importantly, the more important strategic area, Depsang plains, why have the Chinese not moved back? These are the real questions. Why have they not moved from Gogra-Hot Springs”.

    Gandhi said it is the responsibility of the prime minister to protect the territory of the country.

    “GOI must explain – Why our forces are withdrawing from dominant positions in Kailash Ranges? Why we are ceding our territory & withdrawing from forward base at Finger 4 to Finger 3? Why has China not withdrawn from our territory in Depsang Plains & Gogra-Hot Springs,” he asked in a tweet.

    Asked at the news conference if India will lose its strategic advantage once status quo ante is restored, Gandhi said there was no strategic advantage as the Chinese were on our land in Depsang and Pangong.

    “Our soldiers risked everything, they had, to go to Kailash ranges. That’s where the strategic advantage, if any, arose. Now, the prime minister has given back the land. Status quo ante is irrelevant. Kailash has been given back and nothing has happened on the key area of which China wants, Depsang plains.”

    “This is absolute 100 per cent cowardice. This is nothing else. The prime minister is a coward who cannot stand up to the Chinese…He is betraying the sacrifice of our army,” he charged.

    In a statement, Congress’s chief spokesperson Rained Surjewala claimed that Singh’s address and the Defence Ministry’s statement “completely omit” the fact that the Government has agreed to withdraw Indian armed forces from dominant positions in Kailash ranges (southern Bank, Pangong Tso Lake Area), where the Chinese are at a disadvantage, without any quid pro quo by China.

    Hitting back, Union minister Pralhad Joshi accused Gandhi of “lying left, right and centre” and denigrating the country’s security forces.

    BJP general secretary C T Ravi also targeted the Congress leader.

    “I am glad that the Congress has finally realised that PM Nehru created a ‘Himalayan Blunder’ by gifting 38,000 sq km land to China. Will it also question its co-owner, the coward Rahul Gandhi for making baseless allegations against PM Modi?”.

  • Disengagement process on in Pangong Tso areas: Sources

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: Chinese and Indian militaries continued to pull back armoured elements and thinning down of troops in areas around Pangong Tso in eastern Ladakh as part of an agreement reached between the two sides on the disengagement process, military sources said on Friday.

    While armoured elements like battle tanks and armoured personnel carriers are being withdrawn from friction points in the south bank of Pangong Tso, troops are being pulled back from the north bank areas, they said.

    The sources said withdrawal of armoured elements from the south bank of Pangong Tso is almost complete and temporary structures erected by both sides will be demolished in the next few days.

    “The disengagement process will take time as both sides are together carrying out verification of the withdrawal of troops and military hardware,” said a source.

    The disengagement of troops and armoured elements is limited to the friction points where the two sides were on an eyeball-to-eyeball confrontation, sources said.

    After a nine-month standoff, the two militaries reached the agreement on disengagement in the north and south banks of Pangong lake that mandates both sides to cease forward deployment of troops in a “phased, coordinated and verifiable” manner.

    On Thursday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh made a detailed statement in Parliament on the disengagement pact.

    According to the agreement, China has to pull back its troops to east of Finger 8 areas in the northern bank while the Indian personnel will be based at their permanent base at Dhan Singh Thapa Post near Finger 3 in the region.

    Similar action will take place on the south bank of the lake as well, Singh said in Parliament.

    Last year, the Chinese military built several bunkers and other structures in the areas between Finger 4 and 8 and had blocked all Indian patrols beyond Finger 4, triggering strong reaction from the Indian Army.

    In the nine rounds of military talks, India was specifically insisting on withdrawal of Chinese troops from Finger 4 to Finger 8 on the North bank of Pangong Lake.

    The mountain spurs in the area are referred to as Fingers.

    The sources said following completion of the disengagement process, the two sides will hold talks on the de-escalation process.

    They said field commanders of both the armies have been holding talks on a daily basis in the last few days to coordinate the disengagement process.

    The defence minister said the implementation of the pact started on Wednesday and it was agreed to convene the next meeting of senior commanders of both sides within 48 hours of completion of the disengagement in the Pangong lake area so as to resolve all other remaining issues.

    On Friday, the defence ministry said other outstanding “problems” including in Depsang, Hot Springs and Gogra will be taken up at the upcoming talks between military commanders of the two countries.

  • Chinese, Indian border troops start ‘synchronised’ disengagement in eastern Ladakh: China’s Defence Ministry

    By PTI
    BEIJING/NEW DELHI: The frontline troops of China and India at the south and north banks of the Pangong Lake in eastern Ladakh started “synchronised and organised” disengagement from Wednesday, the Chinese defence ministry said, in what is seen as a forward movement in the overall disengagement process to defuse the over nine-month border standoff.

    There was no official comment by either the Indian defence ministry or the Indian Army on the Chinese statement but people familiar with the development said both sides are in the process of pulling back their armoured units like tanks and armoured personnel carriers.

    The people mentioned above said specific steps like the withdrawal of armoured elements from the friction points were discussed threadbare at the ninth round of high-level military talks on January 24 that lasted for around 16 hours.

    The office of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, meanwhile, tweeted that he will make a statement in the Rajya Sabha on Thursday on the situation in eastern Ladakh.

    “Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsingh will make a statement in Rajya Sabha tomorrow regarding ‘Present Situation in Eastern Ladakh’,” it said.

    Authoritative sources in the Indian defence and military establishment did not refute the Chinese defence ministry’s statement on the developments in the northern and southern banks of Pangong lake, an area that witnessed major face-offs since the row erupted on May 5.

    People familiar with the situation in eastern Ladakh said both sides are in the process of pulling back their armoured units in line with steps agreed upon for overall disengagement in the last round of military talks, adding a clear picture will emerge soon.

    “The Chinese and Indian frontline troops at the southern and northern bank of the Pangong Tso Lake start synchronised and organised disengagement from February 10,” spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of National Defence Senior Colonel Wu Qian said in a brief statement in Beijing.

    The statement did not provide details.

    “This move is in accordance with the consensus reached by both sides at the 9th round of China-India Corps Commander Level Meeting,” it said.

    Separately, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman said the frontline troops of the Chinese and Indian militaries began to conduct simultaneous and planned disengagement in the Pangong Lake area on Wednesday as per consensus reached at a meeting of the foreign ministers of the two countries in Moscow in September and the ninth round of Corps commander-level talks.

    “We hope the Indian side will work with China to meet each other halfway, strictly implement the consensus reached between the two sides and ensure the smooth implementation of the disengagement process,” Wang Wenbin said in a statement.

    “This move is in accordance with the consensus reached by both sides at the 9th round of China-India Corps Commander Level Meeting,” the official added.

    A source in the Indian military and defence establishment said there has been some “forward movements” but at the same time added that India will only go by what is happening on the ground.

    Both sides rushed a large number of battle tanks, armoured vehicles and heavy equipment to the treacherous and high-altitude areas of the region after tension escalated following a deadly clash in the Galwan Valley in June last.

    Twenty Indian soldiers were killed in the fierce hand-to-hand combat on June 15 in Galwan Valley, an incident that marked the most serious military conflicts between the two sides in decades.

    China is yet to disclose the number of its soldiers killed and injured in the clash though it officially admitted to have suffered casualties.

    According to an American intelligence report, the number of casualties on the Chinese side was 35.

    At their ninth round of military talks, the Indian and Chinese armies agreed to push for an “early disengagement” of troops and resolved to continue “effective efforts” to stabilise and control the situation in eastern Ladakh.

    “The two sides agreed to continue their effective efforts in ensuring the restraint of the frontline troops, stabilise and control the situation along the Line of Actual Control in the Western Sector of the China-India border, and jointly maintain peace and tranquillity,” said a joint statement after the talks.

    India has all along been maintaining that the disengagement process has to start simultaneously at all friction points and no selective approach was acceptable to it.

    India was specifically insisting on withdrawal of the troops of the Chinese People’s Liberation Army(PLA) from Finger 4 to Finger 8 on the north bank of Pangong Lake.

    The mountain spurs in the area are referred to as Fingers.

    On its part, the Chinese side was insisting on withdrawal of Indian troops from several strategic peaks on the southern bank of the lake.

    Around five months back, Indian troops occupied a number of strategic heights in the Mukhpari, Rechin La and Magar hill areas around the southern bank of the Pangong lake after the Chinese military attempted to intimidate them in the area.

    Close to 100,000 Indian and Chinese troops are deployed in eastern Ladakh amid continuing diplomatic and military talks to find an amicable solution to the standoff.

    Last month, Army chief Gen MM Naravane said that Indian troops will hold their ground as long as it takes to achieve the “national goals and objectives”.

    In December last, India and China held another round of diplomatic talks on the border row under the framework of Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination (WMCC) on India-China border affairs.

    Following the sixth round of military talks, the two sides had announced a slew of decisions including not to send more troops to the frontline, refrain from unilaterally changing the situation on the ground and avoid taking any actions that may further complicate matters.

    This round was held with a specific agenda of exploring ways to implement a five-point agreement reached between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi at a meeting in Moscow on September 10 on the sidelines of a Shanghai Cooperation Organisation(SCO) conclave.

    The pact included measures like quick disengagement of troops, avoiding action that could escalate tensions, adherence to all agreements and protocols on border management and steps to restore peace along the LAC.

  • Armed forces responded appropriately to China’s attempts to change status quo along LAC: Government

    By PTI
    NEW DELHI: The government on Wednesday said it will continue discussions with China to achieve the objective of disengagement of troops from all friction points and restoration of peace and tranquillity in eastern Ladakh at an early date.

    Minister of State for External Affairs V Muraleedharan said this in Lok Sabha while replying to a question on details of in-person and virtual meetings between India and China since the standoff began last year.

    The minister’s comments came on a day the Chinese defence ministry said in Beijing that Indian and Chinese troops started “synchronised” disengagement at the south and north banks of Pangong Lake in eastern Ladakh.

    In his written reply, Muraleedharan said the Chinese military made several attempts to unilaterally alter the status quo along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh since April-May last year and Indian armed forces “responded” to them “appropriately”.

    Indian and Chinese armies are locked in a bitter standoff in eastern Ladakh for over nine months.

    “Since April/May 2020 the Chinese side had made several attempts to unilaterally alter the status quo along the LAC in Western Sector. These attempts have been responded to appropriately by our armed forces,” Muraleedharan said in replying to a question.

    “It has been made clear to the Chinese side that such unilateral attempts are unacceptable. These actions have seriously disturbed the peace and tranquillity along the LAC in the Western sector,” he said.

    The government often refers to eastern Ladakh as western sector.

    Muraleedharan said diplomatic and military engagements with the Chinese side have continued in order to ensure complete disengagement from all friction points and full restoration of peace and tranquillity in the border areas.

    He said six meetings of the Working Mechanism for Consultation and Coordination on India-China border affairs (WMCC) and nine meetings of the senior commanders have been held so far.

    “Government will continue discussions with the Chinese side to achieve the objective of disengagement from all friction points and restoration of peace and tranquility in the India-China Border Areas at an early date,” he said.

    The Chinese defence ministry said the frontline troops of China and India at the south and north banks of the Pangong Lake in eastern Ladakh started “synchronised and organised” disengagement from Wednesday.

    There was no official comment by either the Indian defence ministry or the Indian Army on the Chinese statement.

    In responding to the question in Lok Sabha, Muraleedharan also referred to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar’s talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on September 10 in Moscow.

    “The two foreign ministers agreed that the current situation in the border areas is not in the interest of either side. They agreed therefore that the border troops of both sides should continue their dialogue, quickly disengage, maintain proper distance and ease tensions,” he said.

    Muraleedharan said the two foreign ministers also agreed that both sides shall abide by all the existing agreements and protocol on China-India boundary affairs, maintain peace and tranquillity in the border areas and avoid any action that could escalate matters.

    To a separate question, he said India received assistance from a few countries including Japan, the US, France, Germany and Israel in the form of medical equipment and grants-in-aid following the coronavirus pandemic.

  • Government should have fixed nails in Ladakh to stop China: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi

    By PTI
    AHMEDABAD: AIMIM chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Sunday attacked the Modi government saying that instead of fixing nails and digging the highway in Delhi to stop the protesting farmers, it should have done the same things in Ladakh to prevent the Chinese aggression.

    He also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to listen to the ‘mann ki baat’ of the farmers, a reference to the PM’s monthly radio address by the same name.

    “Had you fixed nails in Ladakh, then the Chinese forces would not have entered India. You did not fix nails in Ladakh, where 18 Indian Army personnel were killed. If you had 56-inch chest, you should have taught China a lesson,” he said while addressing a rally here.

    “Modiji does not utter the name of China even once. He would name everybody and everything, but he won’t the name of China,” he said.

    Owaisi alleged that the three farm laws were against the Indian Constitution because agriculture was a state subject and the Centre had no right to make laws on a state subject.

    He said that the farmers opposing the laws are branded as Khalistanis, Adivasi-Dalits become Naxals, and Muslims Jihadis.

    “Where is the country headed? How much hatred will you spread? I am asking you a question standing on your sarzameen (home turf). Why did Chinese forces enter India in 2020? Because China knows that people of India are not united, they are accusing each other using Love jihad, corona jihad. The government is spreading hatred instead of uniting people,” he alleged.

    The Hyderabad MP attacked the government over the rising fuel prices, and said, “A poor person’s vehicle does not run on air or Modi’s love, but on petrol and diesel.”

    He also called the coronavirus-induced lockdown as unconstitutional and said that it caused 10 crore job losses in the informal sector.

    “In Gujarat, people are being threatened in the name of GST; Hindus and Muslims are not allowed to sell property to each other without the intervention of collector inthe name of Disturbed Areas Act, and the state has a high number of stunted anaemic children and women…segregation index is the highest in Ahmedabad,” he said.

    “Modi made riverfront in Ahmedabad to show it to the world, but did not ensure proper drinking water facilities in Muslim and Dalit localities, proper flyover that causdes traffic jam,” he said.

    Owaisi also attacked the Congress saying that had the opposition party been good, it would have defeated the BJP.

    The Congress remained mum when the government shut down schools, did not raise voice demanding drinking water and proper drainage facilities for the people, he alleged.

    “You lack sense, planning, intellectual USP. You want to counter Hindutva with Hindutva, Hindu nationalism with Hindu nationalism. The AIMIM will counter Hindutva with the Constitution framed by Babasaheb Ambedkar. Hindu nationalism will be countered with Indian nationalism,” he said.

    Owaisi’s party has fielded 21 candidates for the civic polls in Ahmedabad.

  • ‘Chinese village’: AAPSU demands counter-measures against Beijing’s ‘expansionist’ move

    By PTI
    ITANAGAR: The All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) on Thursday said it has taken serious note of China reportedly establishing a village in Upper Subansiri district in the northeastern state and demanded that the Centre initiates appropriate counter-measures to check Beijing’s “expansionist” move.

    Condemning China’s “provocative” move, the apex students’ body of the state alleged that the Centre’s “lethargic and non-committal” approach other than mere lip service vis-a-vis Chinese antics is emboldening the neighbouring country to carry out their “expansionist design”.

    “Chinese claim over our state has given rise to myriad problems notably the stapled visa issue and Siang river imbroglio which still remains inconclusive till date despite the union bringing up the issue at the highest level several times,” AAPSU chief Hawa Bagang said in a statement.

    Bagang stated that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India and the people are proud and patriotic Indians.

    If the nation calls for duty, the youths are ready to stand up even with arms to defend the country, he said.

    The AAPSU also urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to take the happenings in the frontier state seriously not only in terms of military deployment but also match with China in terms of infrastructure development and road connectivity.

  • Indian Army has shown immense grit to match Chinese aggression in eastern Ladakh: Top commander

    By PTI
    UDHAMPUR: A top Indian Army commander on Friday said the force has shown immense grit and determination to match the Chinese aggression in eastern Ladakh and gave a befitting reply, adding talks on the military standoff are being held with the PLA from a position of “equivalence”.

    “Today, I am extremely satisfied with all the actions that the northern command has taken towards the end of August last year now, we are in a position of operational advantage and are negotiating with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) from a position of equivalence,” General Officer-Commanding-in-Chief (GoC-In-C) Northern Command, Lt Gen Y K Joshi told reporters here.

    Around four months back, Indian troops occupied a number of strategic heights in the Mukhpari, Rechin La and Magar hill areas around the southern bank of the Pangong lake after the PLA attempted to intimidate them in the area on the intervening night of August 29 and 30.

    The Indian Army has been holding onto the heights despite objections from Chinese military.

    Gen Joshi said the northern command is facing a triple challenge posed by China, Pakistan and the internal security situation.

    “At northern command, we are contending with a triple challenge. Firstly, we have a western adversary Pakistan which has not yet relented from using terror as a state policy at the northern border we have seen the Chinese belligerence along the LAC third is the internal security situation,” he said.

    “We all got involved in the fight against the (COVID-19) pandemic. It was followed by the PLA act in Ladakh which had us totally occupied… we had our hands full with the job,” the general said.

    The Chinese tried to change the status quo in eastern Ladakh which is being contested with resolve by the Indian Army, he added.

    Indian and Chinese troops are locked in a bitter standoff in eastern Ladakh since May 5 as multiple rounds of military and diplomatic talks have not produced any breakthrough yet.

    Gen Joshi said the internal security situation is stable and under control but has propensity to flare up any time.

    “We are upholding the idea of India”, he added.