Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday took the world by surprise when he visited Nimu Base Camp in Leh early in the morning, sending a clear message to China to get its act together before it is too late. India’s Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) Bipin Rawat and Army Chief M.M. Naravane also accompanied PM Modi during this visit.
Addressing the armed forces, PM Modi said, “The age of expansionism is over, this is the age of development. History has been witness that expansionist forces have either lost or were forced to retreat.”
PM Modi’s statement in the Ladakh region is extremely significant given the ongoing tension at the LAC with China in eastern Ladakh, barely 18 days after a violent face-off. He also paid his tributes to the martyrs of the Galwan Valley clash.
With this visit, PM Modi hit several targets with a single arrow and made India’s intentions clear before the world. He clearly indicated that India would not go on a back-foot and told the armed forces that the country stood firmly behind them.
National Security Advisor Ajit Doval discussed his visit with CDS Rawat. Army Chief Naravane and Air Force Chief Rakesh Bhadauria were then briefed and the CAS held talks with Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Y.K. Joshi in Leh and asked them to be prepared for the high-level visit. The whole strategy was made about this tour and it was kept secret until the Prime Minister landed in Leh on Friday morning.
The decision was finalised on Thursday. Speculations were raised when Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit to Leh was rescheduled on Thursday. However, all the speculations were put to rest after the PM landed in Leh on Friday. By the time the country woke up, he was already there.
The choice of the Nimu Base Camp, which PM Modi visited, was also well thought out as it is not far from the Line of Actual Control (LAC). There is LAC in the east and in the west. This place was probably chosen so that the two countries—China and Pakistan—would get a clear message that India’s political leadership was fully attentive and was not afraid of any threat or aggressive attitude. “With this strong message, the Dragon has been told how seriously India is taking this tension and their nefarious antics,” said a senior Army official.
PM Modi was informed about the situation in Nimu Army Headquarters by Northern Army Commander Lt Gen Y.K. Joshi and 14 Corps Commander Lt Gen Harinder Singh in Leh.
Taken aback by the move, China reacted strongly to PM Modi’s visit to Nimu. The spokesperson of China’s Foreign Ministry said, “No one should do such a thing that will increase the tension.” However, on Thursday, a spokesman of the Foreign Ministry said that China has been appealed to end the ongoing dispute on the border but they are going to take time to retreat since they are in no mood to resolve the problem over talks. The PLA is going to take time to withdraw troops from Galwan, Gogra, Hot Spring and Pangong Tso Point.
According to Army commanders, the Chinese military is still claiming all positions of tension. The Chinese also gathering soldiers and weapons hideously, sources say. India is also responding strongly to China’s aggression. “The Indian Army and Air Force personnel are fully prepared to respond to any Chinese aggression,” said a source.