Kharge, Rahul too pay tribute
NEW DELHI, June 15: The courage, bravery and sacrifice of the Army personnel martyred in the Galwan Valley clashes will continue to inspire coming generations, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said today while paying homage to them on the third anniversary of the conflict.
The clashes in June 2020 were the most serious military conflict between India and China in decades.
“Today, we pay homage to those brave soldiers who made supreme sacrifice while protecting our nation in Galwan Valley. Their courage, bravery and sacrifice will continue to inspire coming generations,” the Defence Minister tweeted.
The eastern Ladakh border standoff escalated significantly following the clashes on June 15, 2020, in which 20 Indian Army personnel laid down their lives.
In February 2021, China officially acknowledged that five Chinese military officers and soldiers were killed in the clashes though it is widely believed that the death toll on the Chinese side was much higher.
The Indian and Chinese militaries are engaged in talks to reduce tensions along the frontier as the two sides are still locked in a standoff in a few friction points though they managed to disengage from some others.
Following the escalation in tension in the eastern Ladakh standoff, the Army has taken a series of measures to boost its operational capabilities in the eastern sector that include procurement of all terrain vehicles, precision guided ammunition, high-tech surveillance equipment, radars and weapons.
Meanwhile, the Congress today alleged that the Modi Government is responsible for not maintaining status quo ante at the Line of Actual Control, saying it is wearing “tinted Chinese glasses”.
On the third anniversary of the Galwan clash, the Congress paid homage to the 20 Army personnel martyred in the clash with Chinese troops in Eastern Ladakh.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge alleged that India has lost possession of 26 patrolling points out of 65, and said it will continue to show the mirror of truth to the Modi Government.
“The Modi Government is responsible for not maintaining the status quo ante at the LAC. We have lost possession of 26 Patrolling Points (PP) out of 65.We have attempted to raise this issue several times in Parliament, but the Modi Government wants to keep fellow Indians in the dark,” Kharge charged on Twitter.
He also alleged that PM Narendra Modi’s “clean chit” to China on Galwan is responsbile for Beijing achieving its nefarious designs.
“This is a body blow to our national security and territorial integrity,” he said.
“The Modi Government’s ‘Laal Aankh’ has become blurred, on which it is wearing tinted Chinese glasses,” Kharge said.
As a responsible opposition, the Congress chief said, “Our job is to keep the country united against the Chinese expansionist policy and to show the mirror of truth to the Modi Government”.
Congress leader Rahul Gandhi also paid tribute to the personnel martyred in Galwan Valley.
“Salute to all our brave soldiers who were martyred in the Galwan Valley this day. India will always remember the supreme sacrifice made by them to protect the country’s borders,” he said in a tweet.
Twenty Indian Army personnel were killed in a clash with Chinese troops in Eastern Ladakh’s Galwan Valley clash on June 15, 2020. (PTI)
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