The Congress has mounted its attack on the Modi government over the issue of disengagement with China in the Ladakh sector. On the occasion of the second anniversary of the Pulwama terror attack, Congress fielded its senior leader and former Defence Minister A.K. Antony to launch a blistering attack on the BJP-led NDA government.
In a press conference on Sunday, Antony, while accusing the government of ‹surrendering› Indian territory to China, posed several questions before the Modi government.
“A few days back our Defence Minister made a statement in Parliament about disengagement in the Pangong Lake area and the Galwan Valley. We are peaceful people, but peace at what terms and what cost if the Galwan and Pangong disengagement is surrender? This should not be done at the cost of national security. Surrender in areas which were in our control in the Galwan Valley was never a point of dispute with China,” Antony said.
While putting a question mark on the disengagement process, Antony accused PM Modi appeasing China by ‹agreeing to disengagement on Chinese terms.› “Please understand the gravity of the situation. Disengagement is good but it cannot be at the cost of national security,” Antony asserted. Citing the example of Galwan, he said, “Areas which have been traditionally under our control, we are surrendering that right as well.”
Speaking on the much talked about Fingers, Antony said, “The area between Finger 8 and Finger 4 was a disputed area where both armies used to patrol. Sometimes, there was pushing and jostling by troops of either side but India always maintained its claim to the LAC up to Finger 8.”
While questioning the government, he added that India has agreed to come back to Finger 3. “Finger 3 is a permanent base named Dhan Singh Thapa. The Indian Army has a post at Finger 4. Then why has that been vacated and why has the right to patrol till Finger 8 been surrendered?” Antony asked.
Antony also accused the Modi government of not giving priority to national security. “For the first time, India is facing two front war-like situations – one from Pakistan and now China is becoming more belligerent by building infrastructure and military mobilisation across the India-China border, mainly from eastern Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim. The Narendra Modi government is not giving proper priority to national security,” he said.
He also criticised the Union Budget and said, “When the Chinese are everywhere at the border, everyone expected a substantial increase in the defence budget. Our armed forces demanded an increase both in the capital and revenue expenditure. The government is showing so much bravado, but practically there is a 1.48 percent increase, compared to the revised budget last year,” he stated.