AK Antony to make statement today on alleged Chinese incursion in Ladakh

Defence Minister AK Antony will clarify in Parliament on Friday whether the Chinese troops occupied 640 kilometres of Indian territory near the border in north-east Ladakh, in April.

A National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) ground situation report has stressed that the Chinese side had stopped Indian troops from patrolling the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and the latter has lost access to the line at some areas in eastern Ladakh.

The report was submitted last month after NSAB Chairman Shyam Saran was asked by Prime Minister Dr. Manmohan Singh to oversee the border infrastructure development and situation at the LAC by visiting the Ladakh and Siachen sectors.

According to reports, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China has gradually occupied nearly 640 square kilometres of area on the LAC in Ladakh in the past few months.

This issue was raised in the Lok Sabha on Thursday by Bharatiya Janata Party (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.

Sinha asked Defence Minister A K Antony to immediately clarify the situation in Parliament on Friday.