Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday hoped that Parliament will send out a unanimous and strong message to soldiers on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) facing Chinese aggression that the country was solidly standing behind its bravehearts.
Modi, who was talking to newspersons in the Parliament premises on the opening day of the Monsoon session, asserted that sending an unambiguous message was “legislature’s crucial responsibility”.
The Congress moved an adjournment motion on the border face-off and sought the government to detail the status on the LAC. The opposition also wants a discussion on the issue. The Congress attempted to raise the issue but could not proceed with it in the Lok Sabha. Leader of Congress in the Lok Sabha Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury and party leader K Suresh gave adjournment notices over the issue of Chinese incursion in Eastern Ladakh.
India and China have been engaged in a standoff since April-May over the transgressions by the Chinese Army in multiple areas on the LAC.
The Lok Sabha was adjourned for an hour, shortly after it met, on Monday following obituary references and offering tributes to former members.
The Prime Minister stated categorically that the parliamentarians will send out a message of their unequivocal support to brave ‘jawans’ facing hardships on the border.
“The entire Parliament stands with the brave soldiers of the country with one voice. I believe that Parliament and all its members will give out a very strong message”, the Prime Minister said before the start of the session.
He also mentioned that the situations are set to become tougher due to the onset of winters that marks heavy snowfall on the border area.
“This Parliament, particularly in this session, has one more crucial responsibility .. just like the faith with which they (soldiers) are standing , determined to protect motherland , Parliament and all its members too will send out a message in unanimous voice, spirit and resolve that the country stands in support of them,” Modi said.
"In one voice, one pledge and one feeling, we will send out a message to the soldiers that we are with them," the Prime Minister said.
Reacting to Modi’s Rs expectationsRs from the opposition, Congress leader Shashi Tharoor was quoted by a news agency as saying , "There is no doubt that all of us stand with the soldiers. However, the government should tell Parliament what is the situation on the border."
The Prime Minister had in the first all party meeting after the ‘Galwan’ clash on June 15 between Indian army and Chinese soldiers, trying to sneak in Indian territory in East of Ladakh, maintained that there was no incursion in the Indian side of the LAC. The Congress-led opposition wants government to clarify in the light of demands that China restore the status quo ante on the LAC.
Modi also expressed gratitude towards the parliamentarians for choosing duty over Covid-19.
" I congratulate and thank them (MPs) for choosing duty over Covid-19 threat. Because of this, the budget session was curtailed and this session we have change of timings for both houses. In fact, Saturdays and Sundays are also working days. There would be many important issues that will be discussed. The more we debate and make it vibrant and detailed, more fruitful it will be for the country and parliament," he said.
Modi reiterated his caution in the pandemic situation and asked everyone to be careful and be safe. "Jab tak dawai nahi, tab tak dhilai Nahi. (No carelessness till there is a vaccine). Hope we will be able to relieve the world of this misery," the Prime Minister said.