Manmohan Singh Endorses Sonia Gandhi’s View on China Issue

Senior AICC member and Former Prime Minister, Manmohan Singh, said that if the China issue is not tackled properly, it can lead to serious consequences. Singh was keeping his party view on China in the Congress Working Committee (CWC) meeting. While endorsing Sonia Gandhi’s view on the same issue, Singh said that the face-off at the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh was a full blown crisis. He added, "The crisis on the border, which if not tackled firmly, can lead to a serious situation”.

Former Defence Minister A.K. Antony and Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad, who attended the all-party meeting called by Prime Minister Narendra Modi briefed the CWC on the border situation. Manmohan Singh slammed the Prime Minister on the Chinese transgression accusing him of delivering disinformation following Modi's statement in the all-party meeting and the later clarification by the PMO. Singh said the Prime Minister should know the implication of his words. "The Prime Minister cannot allow them to use his words as a vindication of their position and must ensure that all organs of the Government work together to tackle this crisis and prevent it from escalating further," said Singh.

Manmohan Singh in his statement on Monday said: "We remind the Government that disinformation is no substitute for diplomacy or decisive leadership." "The truth cannot be suppressed by having pliant allies spout comforting but false statements," added Manmohan Singh. He was criticising Modi's statement at the all-party meeting on Friday and later clarification by the PMO on June 15 night's violent face-off between the Indian and Chinese sides in Galwan Valley that led to the death of 20 Indian soldiers, including a commanding officer. The PM's statement was used by the Chinese to get away with their misdeeds. Addressing the party leaders, she said, "Chinese troops have committed brazen transgressions into our territory in Pangong Tso Lake area and the Galwan Valley, Ladakh. True to its character, the government is in denial. Instead of a resolution, the situation deteriorated rapidly and there were violent clashes on June 15-16," she said, adding that 20 Indian soldiers were martyred, 85 injured and 10 went missing until they were returned.

“The Prime Minister was called out when he announced that no one had intruded into Indian territory in Ladakh”, she added. The Congress leader said that on matters of national security and territorial integrity, the nation has always stood together and this time too, there is no second opinion.