Upping the ante against China, PM Modi lands Leh surprise in move of significance

The Prime Minister may be giving an indication that India may have decided to throw in its lot with the US which has exhibited support for India against the Chinese. It may be a way also to gauge China’s reaction and examine the next step which may be decisive, writes senior journalist Sanjib Kr Baruah as Prime Minister Narendra Modi reached Ladakh amid border tension with China.

New Delhi: In a surprise development on Friday that is replete with significance, Prime Minister Narendra Modi flew to Leh and is likely to visit forward positions in eastern Ladakh where Indian troops are deployed facing China amid rising border tension.

The PM’s surprise visit to Nimu, headquarters of an infantry division, where he was accompanied by Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, may be construed as a blunt signal to China that enough has been tried through military and diplomatic talks but there has been no reflection on the ground with PLA digging in to its position while the Indian army has responded with ‘mirror deployment’.

At Nimu, at about 30 km from Leh, the PM interacted with the Army, IAF and ITBP personnel. The PM is also expected to meet wounded soldiers at the Leh base hospital recovering from the June 15 incident at Galwan Valley.

Earlier, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was scheduled to visit Ladakh which was abruptly put off on Thursday evening.

READ:PM Modi visits forward post in Ladakh, interacts with troops

The PM’s visit has also been undertaken as a morale-boosting move to the soldiers deployed in the cold and forbidding heights besides the brilliant optics as well as to send a signal of bold reassurance to the domestic constituency which has of late been bothered by reports and swirling rumours that China’s PLA has entered and occupied small stretches of Indian territory in eastern Ladakh.

Three rounds of unprecedented corps commander level military talks between the Indian army and the PLA had taken place thrice from June 6 onwards to ‘disengage and de-escalate’ growing mobilization along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), yet on June 15, PLA soldiers launched a brutal attack on Indian soldiers killing at least a score.

These talks were besides numerous division level and battalion level talks that have been ongoing since April when the PLA mobilizations began.

READ:China under Xi stepped up 'aggressive' foreign policy towards India: Report

The PM’s visit comes three days after the government ordered the ban on 59 popular Chinese apps on June 29 citing security concerns.

On Thursday, the defence ministry cleared proposals worth Rs 38,900 crore including buying of 33 new fighter aircraft.

By upping the ante, the PM may also be giving an indication that India may have decided to throw in its lot with the US which has exhibited support for India against the Chinese. It may be a way also to gauge China’s reaction and examine the next step which may be decisive.

But one thing remains clear, with PM Modi making his opening gambit in Leh, from now on the gloves are off.