"Hollowness Of Modi Government’s Claims Of Stability": Congress On Ladakhi Shepherds Vs Chinese Soldiers Near LAC (image: facebook.com/JairamRameshOfficial/)

In response to the video surfacing online concerning Indian shepherds confronting with the China’s People”s Liberation Army (PLA), Congress said that it reveals “the hollowness of the Modi government’s claims of stability at the Line of Actual Control (LAC)”. The video reportedly shot in January 2024, shows PLA troops accompanied by an armoured vehicle harassing and blocking shepherds’ access to grazing areas near Patrolling Points 35 and 36 in the Chushul sector which lie within India’s claim line.

“For four years, the Modi government has tried to cover up the worst territorial setback in six decades for India with its DDLJ approach: Deny, Distract, Lie and Justify. Chinese troops continue to deny Indian patrols access to the strategic Depsang Plains, Demchok and other areas in eastern Ladakh. China continues to deny us access to 2,000 square kilometres despite 18 rounds of military talks,” Jairam Ramesh wrote in the statement issued.

Congress added that the current video is only the latest instance of Ladakhi sources on the ground dismissing “the Modi government’s false narrative”. These sources earlier disclosed how Indian troops have lost access to 26 out of 65 patrol points and that the Central government has agreed to buffer zones in which India has surrendered further territory.

“PM Modi has not only failed to restore the status quo in Ladakh in four years. He has also stood by as China increases its stranglehold on Bhutanese territory in the past six years, despite hollow claims of an Indian victory in Doklam in 2017, which poses a major threat to India’s Siliguri Corridor, also referred to as the Chicken’s Neck. China continues to make inroads into Nepal, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and Maldives, to which India is responding with social media campaigns and the banning of Chinese apps,” Congress added.

The party added that all these resulted from PM Modi”s clean chit to China on June 19, 2020 and it further advanced through schemes like Agnipath which weaken soldiers’ welfare and morale through discriminatory treatment.

“The Congress party will continue its fight for NYAY for our Jawans through the Jay Jawan campaign. It will also strive for NYAY for our displaced shepherds who remain at the mercy of PLA patrols,” it added.

Before concluding the statement, Congress said that Prime Minister should take the people of India into confidence and should explain to them how and when the restoration of status quo will take place. “And if he is unable to do so, the next government will have to take
on this challenge,” Congress concluded.