New Delhi: The Congress party, on Tuesday, called the Narendra Modi-led government a "mute spectator", hours after a commanding officer and two soldiers of the Indian Army lost their lives in a “violent face-off” with Chinese troops at Galwan Valley in Ladakh.
The incident occurred during the de-escalation process which is underway in the Galwan Valley. The violent face-off took place in the midnight, on Tuesday, which led to casualties in both sides.
In a statement of Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said, "Reports of brazen Chinese transgressions at three points in Ladakh into Indian territory since April/May, 2020 have caused grave concerns as Modi government remained a mute spectator."
While calling the reports of Chinese Army moving thousand of troops in Galwan Valley and Pangong Tso Lake Area "shocking" to the entire nation, he said that it is an "audacious attempt on our territorial integrity".
Surjewala also mentioned that in the last five decades, not a single causality or martyrdom of Indian soldiers has occurred on Indo-China border, which is the Line of Actual Control. "If true, the reports of killing of our brave officer and soldiers by Chinese are, indeed, deeply shocking, horrifying and unacceptable," he said.
Congress slammed Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh for remaining "mum" to the matter of "distress and dismay" of the entire nation.
Surjewala asked the government to confirm the news suggesting the killings of an Army officer and soldiers by Chinese at Galwan Valley, saying, "If so, why are PM Modi and Defence Minister maintaining absolute silence?"
Quoting the statement released by Indian Army over the matter, Surjewala asked, "Will the PM and Raksha Mantri take the nation into confidence as to how could our officer and soldiers be killed as the Chinese were reportedly withdrawing from our territory in Galwan Valley? And if they were killed yesterday night, why was the statement issued today at 12:52 pm and why it got changed after 16 minutes?"
He asked the government to come forward and take the nation into confidence as to how much of India's territory has been illegally occupied by the Chinese and how it proposes to meet this challenging situation which has "serious ramifications" for national security and territorial integrity.
"Congress Party remains firm that the entire country stands as one to protect India's National Security and our territorial integrity, at all cost. Let Modi government remember that in our Parliamentary democracy 'secrecy or silence' are unacceptable on part of our government," he asserted.
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