Rahul Gandhi attacks PM on reports of Chinese village in Arunachal
Reports said China has constructed a new village near the border with Arunachal Pradesh. The village is said to be located on the banks of the Tsari Chu river — a place long disputed by
New Delhi, Jan 19: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi on the issue of national security after reports that China has built a village in Arunachal Pradesh.
“Remember his promise – ”मैं देश झुकने नहीं दूँगा” (Will not let the country bow),” Gandhi said on Twitter as he posted a link of a news report about the alleged “Chinese village”.
Congress leader Randeep Surjewala also slammed the prime minister on the matter.
“Modiji where is that 56-inch chest,” he asked on Twitter.
In a cautious reaction to the reports, India had said it keeps a constant watch on all developments having a bearing on the country”s security, and takes necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity.
China constructs village along border
Reports stated that China has constructed a new village near the border with Arunachal Pradesh. The village is said to be located on the banks of the Tsari Chu river — a place long disputed by India and China. The MEA said that they are taking all the necessary measures to safeguard the country’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
“China has undertaken such infrastructure construction activity in the past several years. In response, our government too has stepped up border infrastructure including the construction of roads, bridges etc which has provided much needed connectivity to the local population along the border,” stated the Ministry.
“The government remains committed to the objective of creating infrastructure along the border areas for the improvement of livelihood of its citizens, including in Arunachal Pradesh, said the Ministry.
Chidambaram slams Centre over Arunachal
Congress leader P. Chidambaram had on Monday demanded answers from the government on the issue, alleging that BJP MP Tapir Gao has claimed that China has built a 100-house village in the “disputed area” deep into Arunachal Pradesh.
He said if the allegation made out by the BJP MP is true, will the government again give a clean chit to China or will blame the previous governments for it.
“Mr Tapir Gao MP, belonging to BJP, has alleged that deep into Arunachal Pradesh, in a ”disputed area” within Indian territory, the Chinese have built a 100-house village, a bazaar and a two-lane road in the last year.
“If this is true, it is clear that the Chinese have altered the status quo by converting a disputed area into a permanent settlement of Chinese nationals. What has the government to say about these startling facts,” he had said on Twitter.
Indo-China border dispute
The India-China border dispute covers the 3,488-km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC). China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of southern Tibet, while India contests it.
India and China are locked in a bitter border standoff in eastern Ladakh for over eight months.
India and China have held several rounds of military and diplomatic talks in order to resolve the eastern Ladakh standoff, but no significant headway has been made for its resolution.
(Agencies)