New Delhi, Jun 25 (IANS): The Congress in a fresh attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi has alleged that he is misleading the country by making contradictory statements on Chinese transgressions.
Addressing a press conference in New Delhi, party Chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala and Pawan Khera said that "Isn't the PM undermining their morale by misleading the country and giving contradicting statements. Is it in national interest for the PM to mislead the nation?" asked Surjewala.
The Congress referred to the satellite images of the location where the party alleged that the Chinese have come upto Finger 4. Has Chinese Army come and erected their tents on PP-14 point in Pangong Tso Lake area from Finger 4-8? Are they trying to make fresh incursions? PM and RM need to come clean and take the nation into confidence, said Khera.
The Congress said that the PM at the all-party meeting made a shocking remark saying that no one entered Indian territory nor were Indian posts taken over. The Chinese media immediately lapped up this comment where Modi is giving a clean chit to the Chinese army.
But the very next day, on June 20, India's Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) in a written statement contradicted the PM's remarks. This is unprecedented and shameless. They confirmed that the Chinese did make incursions, the party said.
"Modi Govt has been repeatedly telling the country that they are talking to their counterparts in China to ensure that there is a status quo ante as on April 2020 in Galwan Valley, Pangong Tso lake and hot springs" said Surjewala and alleged that all newspaper reports, quotes by former Army generals, satellite images etc. suggest that the Chinese have made several incursions. "Why is the PM trying to contradict all of them? What is he trying to hide?"
The Congress asked "Has the Chinese Army also come into the Eastern Ladakh sector - Depsang sector, Daulat Beg Oldi road with armoured vehicles? Has the PM and Modi government taken notice of these fresh incursions? The nation wants to know."
Pawan Khera said the nation and the Congress party stand with the Army. We have utmost respect for their valour, 20 soldiers of 16 Bihar regiment including Colonel B Santosh Babu were martyred on 15-16 June at Patrol Point 14 in Ladakh while pushing the Chinese Army away, he added.