Sending an uncompromising message to China from Parliament, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh today asserted that no power in the world can stop Indian soldiers from patrolling.
“The patrolling pattern is traditional and well-defined. No power on earth can stop Indian soldiers from patrolling. That is the reason for our fight with China,” he said in Rajya Sabha on the dispute with China at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Eastern Ladakh.
He was responding to Congress member AK Antony’s comment on Indian soldiers being pushed back from traditional patrolling points.
Making a statement on border tensions at LAC in Rajya Sabha, Rajnath said China is trying to change the status quo along the LAC with its provocative manoeuvres and India would not compromise with it. He also flayed China for violating bilateral agreements of 1993 and 1996 by deployment of troops along the borders in Eastern Ladakh.
Rajnath also blamed China for engaging in provocative military dialogues.
“China again engaged in provocative military manoeuvres on the night of 29th and 30th August in an attempt to change the status quo in the South Bank area of Pangong Lake. But, with timely and firm actions by our armed forces along the LAC prevented such attempts from succeeding. Their actions are at variance with their words,” he said.
Rajnath also said China occupies approximately 38,000 sq kms in Ladakh. Moreover, Pakistan illegally ceded 5,180 sq km of Indian territory in PoK to China under the so-called Sino-Pakistan Boundary Agreement of 1963, he said.
China also claims approximately 90,000 sq kms of Indian territory in the Eastern Sector of the India-China boundary in Arunachal Pradesh, the defence minister added.
Rajnath said the situation along LAC is different from the usual tensions based on the scale of troops that had been stationed by both countries. “In the present situation, there are sensitive operational issues which I cannot detail. I hope the House will understand the sensitivity of the matter,” he said.