The Prime Minister’s Office issued a clarification on June 20 on PM Narendra Modi’s comment that “no one entered Indian territory and no Indian posts were taken over.” Modi had made the comment at the All Party Meeting of June 19 to talk about the India-China border situation via video conferencing. The meeting was attended by leaders of various political parties from across the country.
He had said that no one was inside Indian territory nor was any Indian post captured. He had added that “24 of our brave soldiers made the supreme sacrifice for the nation in Ladakh but also taught a lesson to those who had dared to look towards our motherland. The nation will forever remember their valour and sacrifice.”
I thank leaders from all parties, who gave their valued opinions during today’s all-party meet.
Here are my remarks at the meeting… pic.twitter.com/g9FUADU0Ua
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) June 19, 2020
Statements are still available online, as a video clip on the official Twitter handle of the PM, and on the Press Information Bureau (PIB) website as press releases. The PIB stated, “The Prime Minister said that the entire country is hurt and angry at the steps taken by China at LAC.”
Govt issues clarification on PM Narendra Modi’s comments that no one entered Indian territory and no Indian posts were taken over
— Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) June 20, 2020
On Saturday, according to the latest statement uploaded on the PIB website: “Attempts are being made in some quarters to give a mischievous interpretation to remarks by the Prime Minister at the All-Party Meeting (APM) yesterday.”
The PIB states that the PM had been clear that India would respond firmly to any attempts made by China to any attempts to transgress the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The statement said, “In fact, he specifically emphasized that in contrast to the past neglect of such challenges, Indian forces now decisively counter any violations of LAC (“unhe rokte hain, unhe tokte hain”).
Attempts are being made in some quarters to give a mischievous interpretation to remarks by the PM @narendramodi at All-Party Meeting yesterday
PM was clear that India would respond firmly to any attempts to transgress the Line of Actual Control
(1/n)
— PIB India (@PIB_India) June 20, 2020
The PIB has posted, on June 19, that the PM also spoke about ramping up border infrastructure and said, “The government has given primacy to development of border area infrastructure to make our borders more secure. Provision has also been made for fighter planes, modern helicopters, missile defence systems and other such needs of our forces.”
The PM also said that patrolling capacity at LAC has also increased, and that “We are better informed about the developments at LAC and consequently are able to monitor and respond better”, stated PIB. According to the information bureau the PM said “the movement of those which used to take place without any disruption earlier is now checked by our jawans, which at times leads to build up of tension.”
However, once the PM’s remarks at the APM were reported by journalists, including Chinese meadiaman Shen Shiwei, whose bio describes him as CGTN News Producer, Modi’s comment was interpreted as the Indian PM having ‘accepted’ that there was no intrusion. “No outsider was inside #Indian territory in #Ladakh nor had any border post of the Indian Army captured by outside forces.” Chinese media has translated the speech by #Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on an all- party meet called by him on Friday. #ChinaIndiaFaceoff
“No outsider was inside #Indian territory in #Ladakh nor had any border post of the Indian Army captured by outside forces.” Chinese media has translated the speech by #Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on an all- party meet called by him on Friday. #ChinaIndiaFaceoff pic.twitter.com/mM58NBjytG
— Shen Shiwei沈诗伟 (@shen_shiwei) June 20, 2020
This post set off reactions such as this one from Shiv Sena politician, Rajya Sabha MP Priyanka Chaturvedi who said, “Here’s what I mean for all those trolling me, the Chinese are using PMO statement not the opposition’s to make a case for themselves. Hence these need to be responded to by GOI, also immediately condemned as this change of status quo in China’s favour is unacceptable to Indians.”
Soon enough discussions began on the facts around the alleged “intrusion” itself, and also added to the ongoing discussions on the Indian army men being unarmed when they were attacked brutally and killed. Statements made by the PM at the APM were shared by the government’s official channels, before they were analysed, discussed, and reported by journalists, and defence experts.
According to the clarification issued a day after the APM meeting, the political leaders had also been informed by the PM that “This time, Chinese forces have come in much larger strength to the LAC and that the Indian response is commensurate. As regards transgression of LAC, it was clearly stated that the violence in Galwan on 15 June arose because Chinese side was seeking to erect structures just across the LAC and refused to desist from such actions.”
The PIB stated, “Words of Prime Minister ‘Those who tried to transgress our land were taught a befitting lesson by our brave sons of soil’, succinctly summed up the ethos and the values of our armed forces. The Prime Minister further emphasised, ‘I want to assure you, that our armed forces will leave no stone unturned to protect our borders’. What is Indian territory is clear from the map of India. This Government is strongly and resolutely committed to that. Insofar as there is some illegal occupation, the APM was briefed in great detail how over the last 60 years, more than 43,000 sq km has been yielded under circumstances with which this country is well aware.” The statement added, “It is unfortunate that an unnecessary controversy is being created to lower their morale.”
The leaders of the political parties had expressed solidarity with the government on the India-China issue. Congress president Sonia Gandhi had noted that “the leaders are still in the dark about the details and questioned the government about intelligence reports and other related matters,” stated the PIB on Friday.
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