Making his much awaited statement on the India- China border issue, defence Minister Rajnath Singh in Lok Sabha Lok Sabha stated that : “The Chinese side created a violent face-off on June 15th at Galwan. Our brave soldiers laid down their lives and also inflicted costs including casualties on the Chinese side.
“India and China border issue remains unresolved. Till now, there has been no mutually acceptable solution. China disagrees on border. China doesn’t recognise the traditional and customary alignment of the boundary. We consider that this alignment is based on well established geographical principals.
“We have told China through diplomatic channels that the attempts to unilaterally alter the status quo were in violation of the bilateral agreements.
“Violent conduct of Chinese troops is a violation of all past agreements. Our troops have done counter deployments in the area to safeguard our borders.
China has mobilised a huge number of Army battalions and armaments along LAC & inner areas. There are many friction points in eastern Ladakh, Gogra, Kongka La, Pangong Lake’s north & south banks. Indian Army has made counter deployments in these areas.
“I want to assure you that we are ready to deal with any situation. I request this house to pass a resolution that we stand shoulder to shoulder with our armed forces who are guarding our borders to safeguard India’s sovereignty and integrity.”
“In past too,we’ve had situations of prolonged stand-offs in border areas with China which were resolved peacefully. Even though situation this year is very different both in terms of scale of troops involved and number of friction points, we remain committed to peaceful resolution.
“China continues to be in illegal occupation of approximately 38,000 sq. kms in Ladakh. In addition, under the so-called Sino-Pakistan ‘Boundary Agreement’ of 1963, Pakistan illegally ceded 5,180 sq. km. of Indian territory in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir to China.
“Troops are accordingly being provisioned with suitable clothing, habitat and required defence wherewithal. They are capable of serving at forbidding altitudes with scarce oxygen and in extremely cold temperatures, something that they’ve done over last many years on Siachen and Kargil.”
China has mobilised a huge number of Army battalions & armaments along LAC & inner areas. There’re many friction points in eastern Ladakh, Gogra, Kongka La, Pangong Lake’s north & south banks. Indian Army has made counter deployments in these areas.
