NEW DELHI: Refuting Rahul Gandhi’s claim that the Army chief had said Chinese troops were present inside Indian territory, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh criticized the Congress MP for making “false accusations” and engaging in “irresponsible politics” regarding national security.
Clarification on Army Chief’s Remarks
Singh emphasized that the Army chief’s remarks only referred to the disturbance of traditional patrolling by both sides and noted that these practices have been restored following the recent disengagement in Depsang and Demchok in eastern Ladakh.
Response to Rahul Gandhi
Singh stated that the words attributed to Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi were never spoken and expressed regret over Gandhi’s comments on national interest matters. During the Lok Sabha debate, Rahul Gandhi claimed that General Dwivedi’s statements contradicted PM Modi’s denial of Chinese forces’ presence in Indian territory.
Historical Context
Rajnath Singh pointed out that India lost territory to China in the early 1960s, particularly mentioning the 38,000 sq km in Aksai Chin due to the 1962 conflict, along with 5,180 sq km illegally ceded by Pakistan to China in 1963.
Current Military Standoff
Ahead of Army Day on January 15, General Dwivedi acknowledged a degree of standoff between the Indian Army and the PLA, citing military constructions and troop deployments since April 2020, while reiterating that India would not reduce its troop presence along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) anytime soon.
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