NEW DELHI: Facing attack over its China policy, government today asserted in Parliament that capacities are rapidly being built along the Line of Actual Control and China “fears” India is trying to catch up with it which sometimes results in face-offs between the two armies.
Rubbishing reports that China had occupied 640 km of Indian land in Ladakh, Defense Minister A K Antony asserted in both Rajya Sabha and Lok Sabha that no territory has been ceded to that country.
He conceded that China was “superior” in terms of border infrastructure as India, because of 1962 war, was late in deciding on building roads and other capabilities near the Line of Actual Control, which he described as a “collective failure”.
Making statements in the two Houses, he said all steps are being taken to safeguard national security while seeking a peaceful solution to the long-pending boundary disputes between the two sides.
His statements came after Opposition parties and UPA ally Samajwadi Party targeted the government over its dealing with China despite repeated incursions and other provocative acts.
“I have no hesitation to say that China is in a better position than India in terms of border infrastructure. It is a mistake, it is all of us who are to be held collectively responsible for it. It is a historical legacy,” Antony said.
After “years of neglect”, he said India is fast developing capabilities near the China border, including building of roads, raising of two mountain Divisions, many new airfields and landing grounds.
“It is their fear that India is trying to catch up with them,” he said answering questions over the reason for increased incursions by Chinese troops over the last few years.
Antony said, “Infrastructure is also coming up in disputed areas (along the LAC) also. Patrols are coming closer and as a result, we see there are incursions. They come and go, they come and go and sometimes, situations of face-off also take place. We feel we can go to the areas we feel are ours and they also do so.
“…If you compare overall, in the last ten years, our government has developed maximum infrastructure in those areas,” he said.
The Defense Minister said it was a known fact that China is superior in terms of infrastructure development as they have built trains, roads and infrastructure there but after long years of indifference, India has also started developing its capabilities.
As part of infrastructure development project along the LAC, he said the Government “after 29 years, raised two Mountain Divisions, we raised many new airfields and landing grounds along with several other capabilities in the last few years. After the years of neglect, now I can say that we are moving fast.”
His statement in Parliament came amidst attack by opposition BJP and UPA ally Samajwadi Party members in Lok Sabha, who said a high-level committee of the government had reported that China had occupied 640 sq km of Indian territory in Ladakh sector.
The members were not satisfied with Antony’s statement in Lok Sabha and created uproar.
BJP members were on their feet, while SP members trooped into the Well, creating din which led Speaker Meira Kumar to adjourn the House for an hour.-PTI
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