News Analysis India

Tag: Tawang

  • IAF to conduct combat drills in Eastern Sector amid increased Chinese deployment along LAC

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force will carry out a mega exercise covering the Northeastern region early next month to check its combat readiness, amid the increased deployment of Chinese forces along the Line of Actual Control in Arunachal Pradesh.

    This exercise, as per sources, will involve the activation of all major airbases in the eastern command. 

    Eastern Air Command will be conducting its annual Command-level exercise during the first week of February 2023. This exercise, named ‘Poorvi Akash’, is being conducted after a gap of two years due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. 

    “The exercise will involve the activation of the Command’s fighter, helicopter and transport assets towards a routine practice of aerial drills, including joint exercises,” IAF added 

    The IAF is conducting a second such exercise after the Indian Army and China’s PLA troops were engaged in a clash along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) at Yangtse in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh on December 9.

    The Chinese PLA troops had clashed with the Indian Army soldiers in the Eastern Sector while tensions continue in Eastern Ladakh where more than 50,000 troops along with their arms and equipment continue to remain deployed close to the LAC

    Last time, the exercise was conducted for two days. Air bases in Assam’s Tezpur, Chabua, Jorhat and West Bengal’s Hashimara were activated in the exercise. Fighter jets like Rafale and Sukhoi-30MKI also participated last time. The most modern multi-role combat Rafale Fighters are also based in Eastern Sector at Hashimara Airbase.

    The 3,488 km long LAC is divided into three sectors including the Arunachal and Sikkim in Eastern Sector, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh in Middle Sector and Ladakh in the Western Sector.

    NEW DELHI: The Indian Air Force will carry out a mega exercise covering the Northeastern region early next month to check its combat readiness, amid the increased deployment of Chinese forces along the Line of Actual Control in Arunachal Pradesh.

    This exercise, as per sources, will involve the activation of all major airbases in the eastern command. 

    Eastern Air Command will be conducting its annual Command-level exercise during the first week of February 2023. This exercise, named ‘Poorvi Akash’, is being conducted after a gap of two years due to the COVID-19 Pandemic. 

    “The exercise will involve the activation of the Command’s fighter, helicopter and transport assets towards a routine practice of aerial drills, including joint exercises,” IAF added 

    The IAF is conducting a second such exercise after the Indian Army and China’s PLA troops were engaged in a clash along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) at Yangtse in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh on December 9.

    The Chinese PLA troops had clashed with the Indian Army soldiers in the Eastern Sector while tensions continue in Eastern Ladakh where more than 50,000 troops along with their arms and equipment continue to remain deployed close to the LAC

    Last time, the exercise was conducted for two days. Air bases in Assam’s Tezpur, Chabua, Jorhat and West Bengal’s Hashimara were activated in the exercise. Fighter jets like Rafale and Sukhoi-30MKI also participated last time. The most modern multi-role combat Rafale Fighters are also based in Eastern Sector at Hashimara Airbase.

    The 3,488 km long LAC is divided into three sectors including the Arunachal and Sikkim in Eastern Sector, Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh in Middle Sector and Ladakh in the Western Sector.

  • Incursions along Indo-Tibet border are by China, says Tibetan govt-in-exile

    By PTI

    KOLKATA:  Penpa Tsering, the Sikyong or President of the Tibetan Government-in-exile Tuesday asserted that all incursions along the Indo-Tibetan border have been one-sided and by China.

    In an interview with PTI, the President said since Tibet had signed the treaty of 1914 which set the border between his homeland and India along the McMohan line, Tawang was an integral part of India.

    “We know incursions are happening all from the Chinese side,” Tsering said here. He was speaking in the context of recent clashes at Tawang and at Ladakh between the Indian Army and China’s PLA.

    “Till 1959, there was no border between India and China; it was with Tibet. We are signatories to the 1914 Simla agreement and we recognise the McMohan line as the legitimate border,” he said.

    The Sikyong or President is directly elected by the Tibetan diaspora living in various parts of the world ever since Tibetan refugees fled the “roof of the world” in the wake of the Dalai Lama’s escape from Lhasa to India.

    “China’s belligerence is without any provocation from the Indian side,” the President said, adding that “India standing up to its position sends a very strong message to China.”

    He pointed out that China has disputes with many Asian countries and has been unwilling to settle them.

    “When it comes to US-China relations, they (the Chinese) complain they are not treated as equals but when it comes to other countries in Asia,” they never treat them equally, Tsering asserted.

    He claimed China has a policy of keeping hot spots like Taiwan and Tawang burning in order to divert attention to its own failings.

    He said that China had not been successful in keeping its economic momentum up and had not been able to control the Covid situation at home. “Now that the whole world has recovered, they want to export Covid again,” Tsering said.

    ALSO READ| China didn’t observe agreements with India, tried to ‘unilaterally change’ LAC: Jaishankar

    KOLKATA:  Penpa Tsering, the Sikyong or President of the Tibetan Government-in-exile Tuesday asserted that all incursions along the Indo-Tibetan border have been one-sided and by China.

    In an interview with PTI, the President said since Tibet had signed the treaty of 1914 which set the border between his homeland and India along the McMohan line, Tawang was an integral part of India.

    “We know incursions are happening all from the Chinese side,” Tsering said here. He was speaking in the context of recent clashes at Tawang and at Ladakh between the Indian Army and China’s PLA.

    “Till 1959, there was no border between India and China; it was with Tibet. We are signatories to the 1914 Simla agreement and we recognise the McMohan line as the legitimate border,” he said.

    The Sikyong or President is directly elected by the Tibetan diaspora living in various parts of the world ever since Tibetan refugees fled the “roof of the world” in the wake of the Dalai Lama’s escape from Lhasa to India.

    “China’s belligerence is without any provocation from the Indian side,” the President said, adding that “India standing up to its position sends a very strong message to China.”

    He pointed out that China has disputes with many Asian countries and has been unwilling to settle them.

    “When it comes to US-China relations, they (the Chinese) complain they are not treated as equals but when it comes to other countries in Asia,” they never treat them equally, Tsering asserted.

    He claimed China has a policy of keeping hot spots like Taiwan and Tawang burning in order to divert attention to its own failings.

    He said that China had not been successful in keeping its economic momentum up and had not been able to control the Covid situation at home. “Now that the whole world has recovered, they want to export Covid again,” Tsering said.

    ALSO READ| China didn’t observe agreements with India, tried to ‘unilaterally change’ LAC: Jaishankar

  • Winter Session: Tawang clash dominates House, 7 bills cleared in 13 sittings

    Express News Service

    NEW DELHI: With India-China border clashes dominating the floor proceedings, the winter session of Parliament was concluded on Friday, six days ahead of schedule. The winter session, which began on December 7, was scheduled to end on December 29. However, it was cut short because of the request from legislators of both the Houses in view of Christmas and New Year celebrations ahead.

    The House saw repeated adjournments on the last working day also over the Opposition’s demand for a discussion on the Tawang clashes. On the last two days of the session, Union Health Minister’s letter to Rahul Gandhi to suspend the Bharat Jodo Yatra in view of the new Covid variant also led to war of words between the Opposition and the members of the treasury benches.

    Though the opposition persisted in discussions throughout the session on the December 9 faceoff between Indian and Chinese troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh, the government refused to allow any debate on the matter. While opposition alleged that the government is not being transparent with the border situation, the government maintained that the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has already made a statement in both the Houses.

    “Disruption as an expression mechanism is antithetical to grace, decorum and sublimity of this solemn platform. The fall out is invariably negative as it generates disillusionment, disappointment, helplessness and hopelessness in the people,” he said.

    In terms of productivity, the House was 97 per cent during the 13 sittings, said Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in his closing speech. The government passed seven bills including the supplementary demands for grants. Earlier, the government was considering taking up 16 bills during the winter session. In Rajya Sabha, Dhankhar said that productivity of the House was 102 per cent. The House held 13 sittings totalling 64 hours 50 minutes.

    NEW DELHI: With India-China border clashes dominating the floor proceedings, the winter session of Parliament was concluded on Friday, six days ahead of schedule. The winter session, which began on December 7, was scheduled to end on December 29. However, it was cut short because of the request from legislators of both the Houses in view of Christmas and New Year celebrations ahead.

    The House saw repeated adjournments on the last working day also over the Opposition’s demand for a discussion on the Tawang clashes. On the last two days of the session, Union Health Minister’s letter to Rahul Gandhi to suspend the Bharat Jodo Yatra in view of the new Covid variant also led to war of words between the Opposition and the members of the treasury benches.

    Though the opposition persisted in discussions throughout the session on the December 9 faceoff between Indian and Chinese troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh, the government refused to allow any debate on the matter. While opposition alleged that the government is not being transparent with the border situation, the government maintained that the Defence Minister Rajnath Singh has already made a statement in both the Houses.

    “Disruption as an expression mechanism is antithetical to grace, decorum and sublimity of this solemn platform. The fall out is invariably negative as it generates disillusionment, disappointment, helplessness and hopelessness in the people,” he said.

    In terms of productivity, the House was 97 per cent during the 13 sittings, said Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla in his closing speech. The government passed seven bills including the supplementary demands for grants. Earlier, the government was considering taking up 16 bills during the winter session. In Rajya Sabha, Dhankhar said that productivity of the House was 102 per cent. The House held 13 sittings totalling 64 hours 50 minutes.

  • New Bill to decriminalise minor offences in 42 Acts

    By Express News Service

    NEW DELHI:  The Centre on Thursday introduced the Jan Vishwas Bill in the Lok Sabha, which seeks to decriminalise minor offences to promote ease of business. The Bill, tabled by Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal, proposes to amend 183 provisions across 42 Acts administered by 19 ministries including finance, commerce, environment, road transport and highways, ports and electronics.

    The Bill was introduced amid protests by the Opposition over the recent clashes between Indian and Chinese troops at Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh. Presenting the bill, Goyal said the government has adopted several measures to promote ease of doing business. He added that the government wants to do away with punishment provisions for minor offences. 

    “We have to trust people. For minor mistakes, people should not be punished. There should be a provision for paying fines for minor offences,” he said. The minister added that in order to decriminalise offences, the government has repealed about 1,500 old laws, introduced 3,500 norms and simplified 39,000 compliances. According to him, the proposed law will also help reduce the burden on the judiciary. 

    The bill also proposes the rationalisation of monetary penalties, depending on the gravity of the offence.The bill was later referred to a 31-member joint committee of Parliament for scrutiny. The joint Parliamentary panel includes Lok Sabha MPs P P Chaudhary, Sanjay Jaiswal, Rajendra Agrawal, Poonam Pramod Mahajan, Gaurav Gogoi, A Raja, and Sougata Ray. The names of 10 members of the Rajya Sabha will be announced later. The committee will be required to submit its report to Parliament in the secondpart of the Budget session next year. 

    NEW DELHI:  The Centre on Thursday introduced the Jan Vishwas Bill in the Lok Sabha, which seeks to decriminalise minor offences to promote ease of business. The Bill, tabled by Union commerce minister Piyush Goyal, proposes to amend 183 provisions across 42 Acts administered by 19 ministries including finance, commerce, environment, road transport and highways, ports and electronics.

    The Bill was introduced amid protests by the Opposition over the recent clashes between Indian and Chinese troops at Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh. Presenting the bill, Goyal said the government has adopted several measures to promote ease of doing business. He added that the government wants to do away with punishment provisions for minor offences. 

    “We have to trust people. For minor mistakes, people should not be punished. There should be a provision for paying fines for minor offences,” he said. The minister added that in order to decriminalise offences, the government has repealed about 1,500 old laws, introduced 3,500 norms and simplified 39,000 compliances. According to him, the proposed law will also help reduce the burden on the judiciary. 

    The bill also proposes the rationalisation of monetary penalties, depending on the gravity of the offence.
    The bill was later referred to a 31-member joint committee of Parliament for scrutiny. The joint Parliamentary panel includes Lok Sabha MPs P P Chaudhary, Sanjay Jaiswal, Rajendra Agrawal, Poonam Pramod Mahajan, Gaurav Gogoi, A Raja, and Sougata Ray. The names of 10 members of the Rajya Sabha will be announced later. The committee will be required to submit its report to Parliament in the second
    part of the Budget session next year. 

  • Bravery, valour displayed by Indian armed forces in Galwan, Tawang commendable: Rajnath

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The bravery and valour displayed by the Indian armed forces during the Galwan valley clash and a recent face-off in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh are commendable and any amount of praise for them is not enough, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Saturday.

    In an address at industry chamber FICCI, Singh also took an indirect dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for “doubting” the government’s handling of the border row with China.

    “Any amount of praise is not enough for the armed forces for the way they displayed bravery and valour, be it in Galwan or Tawang,” Singh said.

    “We have never questioned the intention of any leader in the opposition, we have only debated on the basis of policies.Politics should be based on truth. Politics cannot be done on the basis of falsehood for a long time.”

    “The process of taking the society towards the right path is called ‘rajniti’ (politics). I do not understand the reason behind doubting anyone’s intention always,” the minister said.

    Singh said India’s stature has increased significantly on the world stage under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. Now, India is working on setting the agenda on the world stage, he said.

    NEW DELHI: The bravery and valour displayed by the Indian armed forces during the Galwan valley clash and a recent face-off in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh are commendable and any amount of praise for them is not enough, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Saturday.

    In an address at industry chamber FICCI, Singh also took an indirect dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi for “doubting” the government’s handling of the border row with China.

    “Any amount of praise is not enough for the armed forces for the way they displayed bravery and valour, be it in Galwan or Tawang,” Singh said.

    “We have never questioned the intention of any leader in the opposition, we have only debated on the basis of policies.Politics should be based on truth. Politics cannot be done on the basis of falsehood for a long time.”

    “The process of taking the society towards the right path is called ‘rajniti’ (politics). I do not understand the reason behind doubting anyone’s intention always,” the minister said.

    Singh said India’s stature has increased significantly on the world stage under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. Now, India is working on setting the agenda on the world stage, he said.

  • Indian armed forces’ bravery, valour in Galwan, Tawang commendable: Rajnath

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The bravery and valour displayed by the armed forces during the Galwan valley clashes and the recent face-off in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh is commendable and any amount of praise for them is not enough, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Saturday.

    Singh’s comments during an address at the industry chamber FICCI came a day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the government of downplaying the threat posed by China along the Line of Actual Control and saying it was “asleep” and not ready to accept the situation.

    The defence minister also took an indirect dig at Gandhi for “doubting” the government’s intention in handling the border row with China and said politics can not be done on the basis of “falsehood.”

    “Any amount of praise is not enough for the armed forces the way they displayed bravery and valour, be it in Galwan or Tawang,” Singh said.

    “We have never questioned the intention of any leader in the opposition, we have only debated on the basis of policies. Politics should be based on truth. Politics cannot be done on the basis of falsehood for a long time,” he said, without naming anyone.

    “The process of taking the society towards the right path is called ‘rajniti’ (politics). I do not understand the reason behind doubting anyone’s intention always,” Singh said.

    Indian and Chinese troops were engaged in a fresh clash in the Yangtse area of Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang sector on December 9, in a first such major flare-up after the deadly hand-to-hand combat in the Galwan Valley in June 2020 that marked the most serious military conflict between the two sides in decades.

    In his remarks, Singh also said that India aspires to become a superpower for global good and prosperity, and it does not have any intention to even capture one inch of the land of any country, seen as a thinly veiled reference to China’s aggressive behaviour along the borders.

    “When I am saying we aspire to become a superpower, it should never be construed that we want to dominate over countries in the world. We do not have any intention to even capture one inch of the land of any country,” he said.

    “If we want to become a superpower, then we want to become a superpower for global good and prosperity. The world is our family,” Singh added.

    The defence minister also said that India’s economy was among the six-seven large economies during the time of Independence, and when China witnessed a new system following the 1949 revolution, its GDP was less than that of India.

    He said though India and China kept marching together till 1980, the neighbouring country went ahead riding on economic reforms.

    “In the year 1991, economic reforms started in our country too. But China has made such a long jump in a short time that, except the US, it has left behind all other countries of the world in its pace of development,” he said.

    “India returned to the list of top 10 economies in the 21st century. But the kind of development that should have happened in India was not happening,” the defence minister said, adding that a new era of development began in 2014 when Narendra Modi became the prime minister.

    Singh said when Modi took charge of the government, the Indian economy used to be the ninth-largest globally and its size was about two trillion dollars.

    “Today, India’s economy has become the fifth-largest economy with a size of three-and-a-half trillion dollars,” he said.

    In his address, Singh also gave a rundown of the achievements of the Modi government in the areas of infrastructure, health, education, banking, trade and investment, foreign direct investment and overall economic reforms.

    “Remember the time of 2013, when investment firm Morgan Stanley coined the term ‘Fragile Five’, which is the five countries of the world whose economy was faltering badly. The countries in this ‘Fragile Five’ were Turkey, Brazil, South Africa, Indonesia and India,” he said.

    “Today India has moved out of the category of ‘Fragile Five’ and joined the ‘Fabulous Five’ economies of the world,” he said.

    Singh said India’s stature has increased significantly on the world stage under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. Now, India is working on setting the agenda on the world stage, he said.

    At the same time, the defence minister talked about some problems facing the nation, including inflation. He said inflation has gone up due to disruptions in the global supply chain and other logistical bottlenecks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine conflict.

    “The problem of inflation is before us as a major issue. In fact, the world had not fully recovered from the supply chain disruptions and logistical bottlenecks caused by COVID-19 when the Ukraine conflict came before us,” Singh said.

    “Whatever may be the reason, if the problem is in front of us, then we have to find a solution for it. Not only India, but the economy of the whole world is passing through a very difficult phase, but if you see, inflation is less in India as compared to other major countries,” he said.

    NEW DELHI: The bravery and valour displayed by the armed forces during the Galwan valley clashes and the recent face-off in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh is commendable and any amount of praise for them is not enough, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said on Saturday.

    Singh’s comments during an address at the industry chamber FICCI came a day after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused the government of downplaying the threat posed by China along the Line of Actual Control and saying it was “asleep” and not ready to accept the situation.

    The defence minister also took an indirect dig at Gandhi for “doubting” the government’s intention in handling the border row with China and said politics can not be done on the basis of “falsehood.”

    “Any amount of praise is not enough for the armed forces the way they displayed bravery and valour, be it in Galwan or Tawang,” Singh said.

    “We have never questioned the intention of any leader in the opposition, we have only debated on the basis of policies. Politics should be based on truth. Politics cannot be done on the basis of falsehood for a long time,” he said, without naming anyone.

    “The process of taking the society towards the right path is called ‘rajniti’ (politics). I do not understand the reason behind doubting anyone’s intention always,” Singh said.

    Indian and Chinese troops were engaged in a fresh clash in the Yangtse area of Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang sector on December 9, in a first such major flare-up after the deadly hand-to-hand combat in the Galwan Valley in June 2020 that marked the most serious military conflict between the two sides in decades.

    In his remarks, Singh also said that India aspires to become a superpower for global good and prosperity, and it does not have any intention to even capture one inch of the land of any country, seen as a thinly veiled reference to China’s aggressive behaviour along the borders.

    “When I am saying we aspire to become a superpower, it should never be construed that we want to dominate over countries in the world. We do not have any intention to even capture one inch of the land of any country,” he said.

    “If we want to become a superpower, then we want to become a superpower for global good and prosperity. The world is our family,” Singh added.

    The defence minister also said that India’s economy was among the six-seven large economies during the time of Independence, and when China witnessed a new system following the 1949 revolution, its GDP was less than that of India.

    He said though India and China kept marching together till 1980, the neighbouring country went ahead riding on economic reforms.

    “In the year 1991, economic reforms started in our country too. But China has made such a long jump in a short time that, except the US, it has left behind all other countries of the world in its pace of development,” he said.

    “India returned to the list of top 10 economies in the 21st century. But the kind of development that should have happened in India was not happening,” the defence minister said, adding that a new era of development began in 2014 when Narendra Modi became the prime minister.

    Singh said when Modi took charge of the government, the Indian economy used to be the ninth-largest globally and its size was about two trillion dollars.

    “Today, India’s economy has become the fifth-largest economy with a size of three-and-a-half trillion dollars,” he said.

    In his address, Singh also gave a rundown of the achievements of the Modi government in the areas of infrastructure, health, education, banking, trade and investment, foreign direct investment and overall economic reforms.

    “Remember the time of 2013, when investment firm Morgan Stanley coined the term ‘Fragile Five’, which is the five countries of the world whose economy was faltering badly. The countries in this ‘Fragile Five’ were Turkey, Brazil, South Africa, Indonesia and India,” he said.

    “Today India has moved out of the category of ‘Fragile Five’ and joined the ‘Fabulous Five’ economies of the world,” he said.

    Singh said India’s stature has increased significantly on the world stage under Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s leadership. Now, India is working on setting the agenda on the world stage, he said.

    At the same time, the defence minister talked about some problems facing the nation, including inflation. He said inflation has gone up due to disruptions in the global supply chain and other logistical bottlenecks caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine conflict.

    “The problem of inflation is before us as a major issue. In fact, the world had not fully recovered from the supply chain disruptions and logistical bottlenecks caused by COVID-19 when the Ukraine conflict came before us,” Singh said.

    “Whatever may be the reason, if the problem is in front of us, then we have to find a solution for it. Not only India, but the economy of the whole world is passing through a very difficult phase, but if you see, inflation is less in India as compared to other major countries,” he said.

  • PM Modi forced Rajnath Singh to read wishy-washy statement on Arunachal border clash: Congress

    By PTI

    DAUSA: Upping the ante on the government over the Sino-India border issue, the Congress on Friday cited the “ballooning” trade deficit and said while trade is “normal” with that country, the border is “abnormal”.

    Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of “exonerating” the Chinese with his 2020 statement on the border standoff and asked whether what had happened back then was an “incursion” or an “excursion” by the Chinese.

    Hitting out at the prime minister over his “silence” on the issue, Ramesh also alleged that the prime minister “forced” Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to read a “most wishy-washy” statement in Parliament earlier this week following the recent face-off between Indian and Chinese forces in Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh, and asserted that it was the Opposition parties’ democratic right to seek a debate on the important issue.

    “The prime minister has met the president of China 18 times. (Former External Affairs Minister) Sushma Swaraj said trade and terrorism cannot go together. But after China disturbed the LAC arrangement in April 2020, our imports from China have zoomed, our trade deficit has ballooned,” he told PTI while walking in the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra here.

    “So, trade is normal but the border is abnormal. How can we reconcile this with what Sushma Swaraj had said in respect to Pakistan,” Ramesh said.

    Citing the example of what happened in 1962, the Congress leader said when a full-fledged Chinese invasion was on, a debate was taking place in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha.

    “Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and his colleagues in the cabinet heard the bitter, stinging criticism of the government and responded,” he said.

    L M Singhvi, who represented Pali in the Lok Sabha as a Swatantra Party member, had written to Nehru asking for a secret session of Parliament to discuss the Chinese invasion and the then PM responded, saying it is nonsensical to think of a secret session and it must be an open session, Ramesh recounted.

    This letter is on public record, he added.

    Ramesh said it is extraordinary that an Opposition member of Parliament was writing to the prime minister calling for a secret session of Parliament to discuss the Chinese invasion, but the PM said it must be discussed openly in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

    “And here, we have a prime minister who has not spoken a word for two-and-a-half years and the only word he has spoken, he has exonerated the Chinese by saying there has been no incursion. So my question to the prime minister is that if there has been no Chinese incursion as he said on June 20, 2020, what was it, was it a Chinese excursion if it was not an incursion,” Ramesh said.

    What were the Chinese doing in Ladakh and what are they doing in Arunachal Pradesh, he asked.

    “Let us have a debate in Parliament. A debate is not meant to score political points, it is meant to reflect a collective resolve, a collective will of Parliament,” the Congress leader asserted.

    ALSO READ | India blames China of trying to alter ‘status quo’, Beijing downplays Arunachal border clash

    There are political differences and the Bharat Jodo Yatra was born out of political differences with the Modi regime, but in spite of that, on matters of external security, we will speak in one voice, he said.

    “But the prime minister rarely comes to Parliament and he forced Mr Rajnath Singh to read a most wishy-washy statement, the Opposition parties walked out and I think the demand for a debate, the rules of which can be set by the government, is a democratic right that is being denied to all opposition parties,” Ramesh said.

    Questioning the “silence” of the prime minister on the issue, he said Chinese companies continue to prosper in India and the prime minister continues to keep silent.

    “What are the relations between Vivekananda International Foundation and the India Foundation and the Chinese Communist Party, I would like to ask,” he said.

    Congress general secretary in-charge organisation K C Venugopal also slammed the government over the Sino-India border issue, saying people who have been talking about nationalism when in Opposition, are not even allowing a discussion on the border issue in Parliament.

    “They (the BJP) talked a lot about this type of Chinese aggression but now they are not even allowing a discussion in Parliament. We are very much concerned about territorial integrity. China day by day is entering into our territory, the government is keeping mum,” he said. Where will it be debated other than Parliament, he asked.

    “The prime minister should make a statement, there should be a discussion on these things,” Venugopal told PTI while walking in the yatra.

    ALSO READ | China preparing for war, Indian government asleep: Rahul Gandhi

    The remarks of the two Congress leaders come days after Singh, in a statement to Parliament, said Chinese troops tried to “unilaterally” change the status quo along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Yangtse area of Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang sector on December 9, but the Indian Army compelled them to retreat with its “firm and resolute” response.

    The face-off took place amid the over 30-month border standoff between the two sides in eastern Ladakh.

    The Congress has been demanding a discussion on the border issue and accusing the government of hiding the truth.

    DAUSA: Upping the ante on the government over the Sino-India border issue, the Congress on Friday cited the “ballooning” trade deficit and said while trade is “normal” with that country, the border is “abnormal”.

    Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of “exonerating” the Chinese with his 2020 statement on the border standoff and asked whether what had happened back then was an “incursion” or an “excursion” by the Chinese.

    Hitting out at the prime minister over his “silence” on the issue, Ramesh also alleged that the prime minister “forced” Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to read a “most wishy-washy” statement in Parliament earlier this week following the recent face-off between Indian and Chinese forces in Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh, and asserted that it was the Opposition parties’ democratic right to seek a debate on the important issue.

    “The prime minister has met the president of China 18 times. (Former External Affairs Minister) Sushma Swaraj said trade and terrorism cannot go together. But after China disturbed the LAC arrangement in April 2020, our imports from China have zoomed, our trade deficit has ballooned,” he told PTI while walking in the Rahul Gandhi-led Bharat Jodo Yatra here.

    “So, trade is normal but the border is abnormal. How can we reconcile this with what Sushma Swaraj had said in respect to Pakistan,” Ramesh said.

    Citing the example of what happened in 1962, the Congress leader said when a full-fledged Chinese invasion was on, a debate was taking place in Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha.

    “Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru and his colleagues in the cabinet heard the bitter, stinging criticism of the government and responded,” he said.

    L M Singhvi, who represented Pali in the Lok Sabha as a Swatantra Party member, had written to Nehru asking for a secret session of Parliament to discuss the Chinese invasion and the then PM responded, saying it is nonsensical to think of a secret session and it must be an open session, Ramesh recounted.

    This letter is on public record, he added.

    Ramesh said it is extraordinary that an Opposition member of Parliament was writing to the prime minister calling for a secret session of Parliament to discuss the Chinese invasion, but the PM said it must be discussed openly in Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.

    “And here, we have a prime minister who has not spoken a word for two-and-a-half years and the only word he has spoken, he has exonerated the Chinese by saying there has been no incursion. So my question to the prime minister is that if there has been no Chinese incursion as he said on June 20, 2020, what was it, was it a Chinese excursion if it was not an incursion,” Ramesh said.

    What were the Chinese doing in Ladakh and what are they doing in Arunachal Pradesh, he asked.

    “Let us have a debate in Parliament. A debate is not meant to score political points, it is meant to reflect a collective resolve, a collective will of Parliament,” the Congress leader asserted.

    ALSO READ | India blames China of trying to alter ‘status quo’, Beijing downplays Arunachal border clash

    There are political differences and the Bharat Jodo Yatra was born out of political differences with the Modi regime, but in spite of that, on matters of external security, we will speak in one voice, he said.

    “But the prime minister rarely comes to Parliament and he forced Mr Rajnath Singh to read a most wishy-washy statement, the Opposition parties walked out and I think the demand for a debate, the rules of which can be set by the government, is a democratic right that is being denied to all opposition parties,” Ramesh said.

    Questioning the “silence” of the prime minister on the issue, he said Chinese companies continue to prosper in India and the prime minister continues to keep silent.

    “What are the relations between Vivekananda International Foundation and the India Foundation and the Chinese Communist Party, I would like to ask,” he said.

    Congress general secretary in-charge organisation K C Venugopal also slammed the government over the Sino-India border issue, saying people who have been talking about nationalism when in Opposition, are not even allowing a discussion on the border issue in Parliament.

    “They (the BJP) talked a lot about this type of Chinese aggression but now they are not even allowing a discussion in Parliament. We are very much concerned about territorial integrity. China day by day is entering into our territory, the government is keeping mum,” he said. Where will it be debated other than Parliament, he asked.

    “The prime minister should make a statement, there should be a discussion on these things,” Venugopal told PTI while walking in the yatra.

    ALSO READ | China preparing for war, Indian government asleep: Rahul Gandhi

    The remarks of the two Congress leaders come days after Singh, in a statement to Parliament, said Chinese troops tried to “unilaterally” change the status quo along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Yangtse area of Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang sector on December 9, but the Indian Army compelled them to retreat with its “firm and resolute” response.

    The face-off took place amid the over 30-month border standoff between the two sides in eastern Ladakh.

    The Congress has been demanding a discussion on the border issue and accusing the government of hiding the truth.

  • China preparing for war, Indian government asleep: Rahul Gandhi

    By PTI

    JAIPUR: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged on Friday that China is preparing for war and the Indian government is sleeping over it and trying to ignore the threat.

    He also alleged that China has taken away 2,000 square kilometres of Indian territory, killed 20 Indian soldiers and is “thrashing our jawans in Arunachal Pradesh”.

    “I can see the threat of China very clearly. I have been clear on this for the last two-three years, but the government is trying to hide it and ignore it. This threat can neither be hidden or ignored. Going by their full offensive preparation that is on in Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh, the Indian government is asleep,” Gandhi told a press conference here.

    ALSO READ | China needs to revisit assumption that Indian military response will remain indefinitely low: Gokhale

    “The government does not want to hear this but their (China’s) preparation is on. The preparation is for war. It is not for incursion, but for war. If you look at their weapon pattern, what they are doing — they are preparing for war. Our government hides this and is not able to accept it,” the former Congress chief said.

    He said this is happening because the Narendra Modi government does event-based work and does not work strategically.

    “They think in terms of event management but where geostrategy is involved, event-based action does not work, power works there. I have said three-four times that we should be careful and understand what is happening. They keep making statements, I see the external affairs minister keeps making remarks, I should not say it, but he should deepen his understanding,” Gandhi said.

    The Congress has been accusing the BJP-led government of succumbing to pressure from China and not taking on the neighbouring country after its frequent transgressions at the border.

    The opposition party has been saying that the prime minister should take on China and address the border issues with it strongly by looking “eye to eye”.

    The Congress has also been seeking a discussion in Parliament on the border issue and Chinese transgressions at the border.

    READ HERE | India blames China of trying to alter ‘status quo’, Beijing downplays Arunachal border clash

    JAIPUR: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi alleged on Friday that China is preparing for war and the Indian government is sleeping over it and trying to ignore the threat.

    He also alleged that China has taken away 2,000 square kilometres of Indian territory, killed 20 Indian soldiers and is “thrashing our jawans in Arunachal Pradesh”.

    “I can see the threat of China very clearly. I have been clear on this for the last two-three years, but the government is trying to hide it and ignore it. This threat can neither be hidden or ignored. Going by their full offensive preparation that is on in Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh, the Indian government is asleep,” Gandhi told a press conference here.

    ALSO READ | China needs to revisit assumption that Indian military response will remain indefinitely low: Gokhale

    “The government does not want to hear this but their (China’s) preparation is on. The preparation is for war. It is not for incursion, but for war. If you look at their weapon pattern, what they are doing — they are preparing for war. Our government hides this and is not able to accept it,” the former Congress chief said.

    He said this is happening because the Narendra Modi government does event-based work and does not work strategically.

    “They think in terms of event management but where geostrategy is involved, event-based action does not work, power works there. I have said three-four times that we should be careful and understand what is happening. They keep making statements, I see the external affairs minister keeps making remarks, I should not say it, but he should deepen his understanding,” Gandhi said.

    The Congress has been accusing the BJP-led government of succumbing to pressure from China and not taking on the neighbouring country after its frequent transgressions at the border.

    The opposition party has been saying that the prime minister should take on China and address the border issues with it strongly by looking “eye to eye”.

    The Congress has also been seeking a discussion in Parliament on the border issue and Chinese transgressions at the border.

    READ HERE | India blames China of trying to alter ‘status quo’, Beijing downplays Arunachal border clash

  • Rajnath Singh’s statement on Arunachal clash incomplete, Modi govt hiding truth: Congress

    By PTI

    NEW DELHI: The Congress on Tuesday said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s statement in Parliament on the Sino-India border clash in Tawang was “incomplete” and accused the government of hiding the truth from the nation.

    Congress spokesperson and deputy leader of the party in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi demanded that the government should tell the truth and not divert public attention by raising other issues like cancellation of FCRA registration of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation.

    Gogoi and party leader Pawan Khera also accused the government of diplomatic failure with China, claiming that India has lost its pre-eminent position in Southeast Asia.

    Both the leaders demanded that the government should agree to a detailed discussion on the border situation and ties with China, alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks made in June 2020 that “no one has entered Indian territory nor has anyone occupied its territory” has emboldened China to indulge in such misadventures.

    “Why did Rajnath Singh give a statement so late as the incident is of December 9. Why was this not given yesterday in Parliament? What are they hiding this? This government wants to hide the truth from the nation and our demand from day one has been to tell the truth to the nation,” Gogoi told reporters at a press conference.

    He said the Congress is concerned about the security of the nation and that is why it was asking questions to the government.

    “Rajnath Singh may be wanting to provide more information but his voice has also been silenced by the Prime minister. That is why the minister’s statement is incomplete. Our questions were valid,” he said.

    He alleged that whenever an issue of national security comes up, the “prime minister hides behind his ministers”.

    ALSO READ | India blames China of trying to alter ‘status quo’, Beijing downplays Arunachal border clash

    Asking why Parliament was deliberately kept in the dark, Gogoi said that is why the Congress staged a walkout after Singh’s statement in Lok Sabha and later in Rajya Sabha.

    “The BJP government is not able to protect the territorial integrity of our country. They do not have the time to think about the country except elections and doing communal politics,” he said, adding that we have to prepare a united strategy after taking everyone together but there is no time for it with this government.

    He also accused the government of “diplomatic failure” and that is why China is indulging in such clashes along the border.

    “Modi ji, dariye mat. (Don’t be afraid). Name China and assure the country that what he said earlier was wrong and spell out how India plans to take on this challenge strongly,” Gogoi said.

    Taking on Home Minister Amit Shah, Khera said he was making allegations against the Congress but should answer why the BJP was taking the help of UC News Mobile and ShareIt in 2019 elections.

    “The accounts of Rajiv Gandhi foundation are in public domain and there is nothing to hide about them. But what are the RSS ties with China’s communist party and why they knock at China’s doors and why it has a tie up with CPC. Even when they are not in power, the BJP goes there to get lessons from China.

    What are India Foundation and Vivekanand Foundation’s relations with China, the Home minister should tell,” he said.

    Khera also demanded that the government should make public details of the PM Cares fund and tell which Chinese companies have given donations to it.

    “We want to know what is the secret of Modi ji giving a clean chit to China in 2020. We are concerned about the country’s integrity and its borders. The Congress leader said the government has allowed the Chinese to understand your weakness and that is why failure on your diplomacy. You should have left diplomacy to diplomats. This is the diplomatic failure, as neither can we ask questions from Raksha Mantri, nor from external affairs ministry or anyone else. The Prime Minister is clearly responsible for this as he gave the clean chit to China. China has not only disturbed the status quo and we are asking the government to fight China but you are here fighting with us. This is the diplomatic failure,” Khera asserted.

    Asked what he meant by India’s diplomatic failure, Gogoi said, “If it was a success, China would not have shown this courage. We have failed on diplomacy with China. The failure of this government to impose high costs on Chinese misadventure is the number one failure. Number two failure is that you are tying your Army’s hands behind their back and asking them to go back from their own territory. There is a demand for pre-Galwan status quo, but you have dropped the demand. Thirdly, you are seeing a distance between you and your allies, especially in South Asia. Under Prime Minister Modi, India has lost her pre-eminent position in South Asia. Even on economic ad diplomatic front,” the Congress MP from Assam said.

    He, however, said the government does not have the time to consider this issue and urged it to show transparency.

    “We have been seeking a holistic discussion on China. Prime Minister should hold another round of talks and admit to mistakes. The country gives importance to national security,” he said, adding that the government is answerable to the country and the government should reply to the nation and tell the truth.

    Gogoi also asked why the Indian government is making compromises at the border by signing disengagement agreements and creating buffer zones and that is why China is getting the courage to indulge in such misadventures as done in Tawang on Friday.

    He claimed that by doing so, China wants that buffer zones are created in north eastern sector.

    “If India has to give reply to China’s misadventure, then India will have to engage with South East Asia. But, the effort is to divert the attention of the country. We are facing such a challenge and if we do not respond to it unitedly, we will have to face the consequences in future and PM Modi will have to take the entire responsibility.”

    Khera said in 1962, as many as 165 MPs participated in the discussion on China when even our MPs criticised our government then and Nehru ji listened. “But, look at this government they attack us when we ask them questions.”

    NEW DELHI: The Congress on Tuesday said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s statement in Parliament on the Sino-India border clash in Tawang was “incomplete” and accused the government of hiding the truth from the nation.

    Congress spokesperson and deputy leader of the party in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi demanded that the government should tell the truth and not divert public attention by raising other issues like cancellation of FCRA registration of the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation.

    Gogoi and party leader Pawan Khera also accused the government of diplomatic failure with China, claiming that India has lost its pre-eminent position in Southeast Asia.

    Both the leaders demanded that the government should agree to a detailed discussion on the border situation and ties with China, alleging that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks made in June 2020 that “no one has entered Indian territory nor has anyone occupied its territory” has emboldened China to indulge in such misadventures.

    “Why did Rajnath Singh give a statement so late as the incident is of December 9. Why was this not given yesterday in Parliament? What are they hiding this? This government wants to hide the truth from the nation and our demand from day one has been to tell the truth to the nation,” Gogoi told reporters at a press conference.

    He said the Congress is concerned about the security of the nation and that is why it was asking questions to the government.

    “Rajnath Singh may be wanting to provide more information but his voice has also been silenced by the Prime minister. That is why the minister’s statement is incomplete. Our questions were valid,” he said.

    He alleged that whenever an issue of national security comes up, the “prime minister hides behind his ministers”.

    ALSO READ | India blames China of trying to alter ‘status quo’, Beijing downplays Arunachal border clash

    Asking why Parliament was deliberately kept in the dark, Gogoi said that is why the Congress staged a walkout after Singh’s statement in Lok Sabha and later in Rajya Sabha.

    “The BJP government is not able to protect the territorial integrity of our country. They do not have the time to think about the country except elections and doing communal politics,” he said, adding that we have to prepare a united strategy after taking everyone together but there is no time for it with this government.

    He also accused the government of “diplomatic failure” and that is why China is indulging in such clashes along the border.

    “Modi ji, dariye mat. (Don’t be afraid). Name China and assure the country that what he said earlier was wrong and spell out how India plans to take on this challenge strongly,” Gogoi said.

    Taking on Home Minister Amit Shah, Khera said he was making allegations against the Congress but should answer why the BJP was taking the help of UC News Mobile and ShareIt in 2019 elections.

    “The accounts of Rajiv Gandhi foundation are in public domain and there is nothing to hide about them. But what are the RSS ties with China’s communist party and why they knock at China’s doors and why it has a tie up with CPC. Even when they are not in power, the BJP goes there to get lessons from China.

    What are India Foundation and Vivekanand Foundation’s relations with China, the Home minister should tell,” he said.

    Khera also demanded that the government should make public details of the PM Cares fund and tell which Chinese companies have given donations to it.

    “We want to know what is the secret of Modi ji giving a clean chit to China in 2020. We are concerned about the country’s integrity and its borders. The Congress leader said the government has allowed the Chinese to understand your weakness and that is why failure on your diplomacy. You should have left diplomacy to diplomats. This is the diplomatic failure, as neither can we ask questions from Raksha Mantri, nor from external affairs ministry or anyone else. The Prime Minister is clearly responsible for this as he gave the clean chit to China. China has not only disturbed the status quo and we are asking the government to fight China but you are here fighting with us. This is the diplomatic failure,” Khera asserted.

    Asked what he meant by India’s diplomatic failure, Gogoi said, “If it was a success, China would not have shown this courage. We have failed on diplomacy with China. The failure of this government to impose high costs on Chinese misadventure is the number one failure. Number two failure is that you are tying your Army’s hands behind their back and asking them to go back from their own territory. There is a demand for pre-Galwan status quo, but you have dropped the demand. Thirdly, you are seeing a distance between you and your allies, especially in South Asia. Under Prime Minister Modi, India has lost her pre-eminent position in South Asia. Even on economic ad diplomatic front,” the Congress MP from Assam said.

    He, however, said the government does not have the time to consider this issue and urged it to show transparency.

    “We have been seeking a holistic discussion on China. Prime Minister should hold another round of talks and admit to mistakes. The country gives importance to national security,” he said, adding that the government is answerable to the country and the government should reply to the nation and tell the truth.

    Gogoi also asked why the Indian government is making compromises at the border by signing disengagement agreements and creating buffer zones and that is why China is getting the courage to indulge in such misadventures as done in Tawang on Friday.

    He claimed that by doing so, China wants that buffer zones are created in north eastern sector.

    “If India has to give reply to China’s misadventure, then India will have to engage with South East Asia. But, the effort is to divert the attention of the country. We are facing such a challenge and if we do not respond to it unitedly, we will have to face the consequences in future and PM Modi will have to take the entire responsibility.”

    Khera said in 1962, as many as 165 MPs participated in the discussion on China when even our MPs criticised our government then and Nehru ji listened. “But, look at this government they attack us when we ask them questions.”

  • Earthquake of magnitude 3.5 hits Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang

    By ANI

    TAWANG: An earthquake of magnitude 3.5 on the Richter scale hit near Tawang of Arunachal Pradesh on Saturday noon.

    The National Center for Seismology (NCS) informed that the earthquake took place at a depth of 20 kilometres and 55 kilometres East of Tawang.

    “Earthquake of Magnitude:3.5, Occurred on 30-10-2021, 12:44:05 IST, Lat: 27.54 and Long: 92.44, Depth: 20 Km, Location: 55km E of Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh,” NCS tweeted.

    More details are awaited.