AMN /New Delhi
Congress party has expressed serious concern over the continuing standoff between India and China on the tri-junction of India, Bhutan and China. Party asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to explain why relations with the Southeast Asian neighbour had snowballed from ‘Jhoola in Sabarmati’ to ‘eye-ball to eye-ball’.
Talking to media here on Saturday, AICC spokesperson Kapil Sibal said,’It is for the BJP Government to tell us what they wish to do. We only know that from the ‘Jhoola’ at Sabarmati to the present situation …. that is a big gap — from swinging to being eye-ball to eye-ball.
Now it is for the Prime Minister to make statement which he has not made so far as to why this has happened and what the country needs to do.’ Stressing that when it comes to China or Pakistan intrusion on our territory, we all stand together, Mr Sibal said,’we also ask the question why have things changed since the inauguration in 2014 and who is responsible for this?’ In a major standoff on the India-China border, Chinese troops recently entered the state of Sikkim and destroyed two Indian bunkers. Chinese troops also engaged in a fight with Indian troops, who were guarding the border at the location.
Following the standoff, China refused entry to the first batch of 47 pilgrims who “were scheduled to travel to Kailash Mansarovar through the Nathu La Pass,” citing damage to roads due to rain and landslides in the Tibet region. While expressing its solidarity with the Government and its readiness to support any concrete steps taken by it to resolve the standoff, the Congress has, however, charged the NDA of failing to take strong corrective measures on National security.