Chinese transgression is result of PM's silence and his failure to safeguard borders: Sibal

A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi visited Leh and addressed frontline soldiers, Congress leader Kapil Sibal alleged that the PM's "silence" and "failure to safeguard" Indian borders led to the brazen Chinese transgressions along the LAC. He also said the times warrant India to look 'eye-to-eye' at China and unequivocally tell them to retreat from their illegal and brazen occupation of Indian territory.

New Delhi: Launching a scathing attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Senior Congress leader Kapil Sibal alleged that the PM's "silence" and "failure to safeguard" Indian borders led to the brazen Chinese transgressions along the Line of Actual Control, in Ladakh.

While addressing a virtual press conference, Sibal said, "The times warrant India to look 'eye-to-eye' at China and unequivocally tell them to retreat from their illegal and brazen occupation of Indian territory. Mr Prime Minister, this is the only 'Raj Dharma' you must follow."

The Congress leader also showed satellite imageries of Pangong Tso Lake area, depicting the constructions done by Chinese troops at Indian land.

Satellite imageries of Pangong Tso Lake area

Raising questions over the occupation of Indian land by Chinese troops, Sibal said, "Does the latest, and the first actual picture of Chinese occupation of our territory up to 'Finger 4 Ridge' in Pangong Tso Lake area depict the truth on ground? Is this Indian territory on which construction of Radar, helipad and other structures have been built by Chinese in a brazen act of transgression?"

Read:PM Modi sends strong message to China, says age of expansionism is over

"Have the Chinese occupied territory in Galwan Valley, including 'Patrol Point-14' where our 20 Jawan made the supreme sacrifice? Has China occupied our territory up to 'Y-junction', threatening India's strategic 'DBO Airstrip', which is the lifeline for our military supplies to Siachen Glacier and Karakoram Pass?" he further added.

Taking a sharp jibe at PM Modi's visit to Leh, Sibal mentioned that former PM Indira Gandhi and Jawaharlal Nehru visited the forward locations in 1971 and 1962 respectively, while PM Modi "stayed" 230 km away.

He also replied to BJP's allegations over Congress for 1962 war saying that Nehru was unrelenting on China drawing its own LAC and claimed that China, during his time, accepted that Galwan Valley belongs to India.

"The term, Line of Actual Control was coined by Chinese premier Zhou Enlai in 1956 and then repeated in 1959, and during the 1962 war. After China's invasion of India, Enlai sent Nehru a letter asking India to accept 1959 Chinese streamline and saying China was willing to withdraw 20 km from the claim line," stated Sibal.

Read:India will never bow down to any world power, PM tells injured soldiers

He further claimed, "In response, Nehru wrote a letter to Zhou saying that India will never submit to the demand for it to accept the Chinese 1959 line, whatever the consequences and however long and hard the struggle maybe."

Sibal also alleged that a delegation of local councillors of Ladakh, including Bjp councillors, submitted a memorandum to PM Modi in February 2020, stating the capturing of land by China.

"What action did the PM take? Had the PM acted, wouldn't we have been able to pre-empt the brazen Chinese transgression?" he asked.

It is to be noted that, in a clear message to China, PM Modi on July 3 said the era of expansionism is over and that India’s enemies have seen the "fire and fury" of its armed forces as he made an unannounced visit to Ladakh, signalling India's firmness in dealing with the border row with the neighbouring country.

In an address to troops in Nimu, the prime minister paid glowing tributes to the 20 Indian soldiers killed in the Galwan Valley clashes and said tales of the bravery and valour of the armed forces are echoing in every part of the country.

"Bharat Mata's enemies have seen your fire and fury," Modi said, in an apparent reference to the military clashes between the Indian and Chinese troops, and asserted that bravery is a prerequisite for peace and that the weak can never accomplish it.

(With inputs from PTI)