NEW DELHI: India today said its army patrol went 27 times in Depsang Bulge area in Daulat Beg Oldie sector, which was virtually cut off during the 21-day stand-off with People’s Liberation Army of China in April this year.
“After the stand-off incident, both sides decided to maintain status quo and move back to respective areas. Our army people are carrying out patrols there and this year, they went there 27 times,” Defense Minister A K Antony told the Lok Sabha.
He said the patrols were going to the Depsang Bulge areas even after the incident.
The Minister was responding to queries by BJP leader Yashwant Sinha to clarify on the status of Depsang Bulge amid reports that China had built roads there and it was denying Indian troops to patrol there.
The area was witness to a 21-day stand-off when Chinese troops had come, pitched tents at Raki Nallah area there staking their claim.
After long parleys between the two sides, they agreed to return to the pre-April 15 position.
To a query by Mulayam Singh Yadav (SP) that China was showing seven Indian states as its part, Antony said this was being done by them since 1959 and this was a legacy issue.
“They have been claiming it and we are rejecting it,” he said.-PTI