Nothing to conceal on issue of Chinese incursion: Govt

The Defence Minister will be making a statement in the House on the same at 3 pm

The government today said it has nothing to conceal on the issue of Chinese incursion even as BJP accused it of "weak response".

"Defence Minister (A K Antony) will be making a statement in the House on the press reports about Chinese intrusion, occupation of Indian territories. In Lok Sabha he will do it at 1 PM and in Rajya Sabha at 3 PM," Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kamal Nath told reporters outside Parliament House.

"The government has nothing to hide, nothing to conceal. This is a matter of national interest, national importance. Everything will be made clear. As and when it is required we will discuss it," he said.

BJP leader Prakash Javadekar attacked the government saying that it may maintain that nothing has happened but reports emanating from the border and the account by eyewitnesses say that "Indian Army is being prohibited from patrolling in areas inside the Line of Control on the Indian side".

"The situation on China border and reports from China border are very disturbing. We and the whole country are concerned about what is happening on the border....

"We can definitely resolve the issue. But there has to be a political will and a preparedness by the government. But there is a complete lack of will. I fail to understand why the government is adopting such a weak response towards China," Javadekar said.

He referred to the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Russia to attend the G-20 summit, where the Chinese leadership is also present, and asked, "Whether the Prime Minister will talk to the Chinese Prime Minister or not. Why he is not talking to the Chinese leader and calling a spade a spade. We demand that the Prime Minister must talk to his Chinese counterpart."

The BJP leader said that his party will raise the issue in Parliament and that he will also write to the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on Defence to take up these issues on priority basis.

A committee tasked by the Prime Minister to assess the situation on the China border is understood to have reported that Indian troops are not being allowed to patrol up to the perceived Line of Actual Control (LAC) by the Chinese Army.

 

The team, headed by National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) Chairman Shyam Saran, visited Ladakh between August 2 and 9 to review the border infrastructure development and the situation there.

 

It is believed to have said that Chinese troops have built motorable roads inside the LAC perceived by India in Daulat Beg Oldie and other sectors in Ladakh and that patrolling by Indian troops was being prevented.

 

The issue was raised in Lok Sabha yesterday by BJP leader Yashwant Sinha who said media reports have quoted the committee as having concluded that 640 sq km of Indian territory has been occupied by China.

 

Expressing his concern over the issue, Javadekar said that the government should immediately give a statement on what is happening on the border with China and clarify the situation.

 

"We will raise it at all available forums... I had written a letter earlier also. I am writing a letter today also to the Chairman of the Parliament Commitee on Defence Raj Babbar that so many such incidents are happening at the border with China...Now there are reports of even terrorists getting arms from China.

 

"After all the defence committee is a live platform and we must take up what is happening to Indian Navy, the fire at Vizag, the drowning of the submarine Sindhurakshak, Chinese border incursion, prohibiting of Indian Army from patrolling and Pakistan border issues. There are so many such developments in the recent times," the BJP leader said