The Opposition on Friday grilled the Government on reports that China had taken control of about 640 square km in ladakh region.
In lok Sabha, senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha said that China was nibbling at the line of Actual Control and demanded the UPA Government to develop ‘courage and will power’ to take head on the aggression from China.
Assuring his party’s support to the Government if New Delhi decided to deal with China, the former External Affairs Minister warned that the neighbouring country was increasing its domination along the lAC.
“According to my knowledge, China has control over 750 square km of area that belonged to India. Now the Chinese Army does not allow our Army to patrol in that area. Please come clean on this. Please tell the nation about the challenge faced from China,” Sinha said.
The BJP leader claimed that China has built motorable road near Dault Beg Oldi. “We use mule train, they use motarable vehicle. We take 15 days to cover the distance, they cover in few hours,” he claimed.
He sought to know whether Shyam Sharan had briefed the Prime Minister on August 10 about the challenge from China after visiting the lAC. He also sought to know from the Government whether India has lost control over the Depsang Bulge in Eastern ladakh.
He accused China of not honouring the Border Protocol of 2005, which did not give permission of construction along the lAC. “When they (Chinese Army) came inside the Indian Territory few months back, they set up structure. We dithered and did not take action. They returned only when they desired,” Sinha said.
Samajwadi Party supremo Mulayam Singh Yadav accused the Government of being afraid to take on repeated Chinese incursions. He alleged that Defence Minister ignored repeated alerts given to him by the Army brass in their regular weekly meetings about Chinese incursion. He pointed out that weekly status meeting was a normal feature where the Defence Minister was apprised about the ground realities, positioning or defence forces and to review it time to time.
“In complete contrast to our brave and courageous soldiers, this Government, our Prime Minister and Defence Minister are weak and confused on China policy. They have been allowing massive trade activities to China and in response that country is spreading its tentacles to prepare itself to attack India. I am sure given the circumstances China will attack us one day,” said Yadav.
Yadav boasted that when he was Defence Minister he had directed the force to retaliate when Pakistan had attacked one of our helicopters.
Trinamool Congress leader Saugata Roy leader suggested caution saying a responsible nation like India should not take hasty decision. “I want to know whether Shyam Sharan has actually said in his report that China has occupied 625 square km of Indian Territory. Does the Defence Minister feel that infrastructure along the lAC was up to mark,” Roy asked.