AMN/ New Delhi
Leaders of various Opposition parties who were not present on Friday meet were briefed by the government on the standoff between India and China on the border and the situation in Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday.
At the meeting, the Opposition called on the government to resolve the standoff with China through diplomatic efforts.
In the second round of the government meeting with the Opposition parties, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj, Defence Minister Arun Jaitley, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar and Home Secretary-
designate Rajiv Gauba briefed leaders of Opposition parties on the India China Border standoff and the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
JD (S) leader and former prime minister H D Deve Gowda, and CPI’s D Raja were among the Opposition leaders present at the meeting, held this evening.
Leaders of JD (S), CPI, RSP, JMM, Sikkim Democratic Front, partner of the ruling NDA Akali Dal, besides others, were present in today’s meeting.
This is the second day of the government ministers briefing leaders of Opposition parties on standoff between India and China on the border and the situation in Jammu and Kashmir.
Yesterday, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, Ms Swaraj and Mr Jaitley had briefed leaders of 14 Opposition parties on the issue.
Those who were absent in yesterday’s meeting, were invited for today’s meeting.
During today’s meeting, Foreign Secretary S Jaishankar briefed Opposition about the prevailing situation along the Sino-Indian border.
Mr Jaishankar told the Opposition leaders that after China tried to make inroads in Doklam area, the Indian troops, on the request of Bhutan, stopped the Chinese Army in accordance with India’s security agreement with Bhutan.
Home Secretary-designate Rajeev Gauba briefed the leaders on the situation in Jammu and Kashmir and the action taken by the government to prevent recurrence of the recent terrorist attack on Amarnath pilgrims.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, Mr Raja said that in the meeting, leaders of various Opposition parties called on the government to resolve the standoff with China through diplomatic means.