Congress leader Jairam Ramesh on Monday launched a sharp attack on Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s handling of China relations, coinciding with the arrival of Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in India for high-level talks.
Ramesh alleged that India continues to suffer the consequences of PM Modi’s June 19, 2020 statement after the Galwan clashes, where the Prime Minister had said, “Na koi hamari seema mein ghus aaya hai, na hi koi ghusa hua hai.” The clash had claimed the lives of 20 Indian soldiers.
“India is paying the price for Prime Minister Modi’s infamous clean chit to China. His statement insulted the martyrdom of our soldiers in Galwan,” Ramesh said in a post on X.
The Congress leader further accused Beijing of directly aiding Pakistan during Operation Sindoor earlier this year by supplying J-10C fighter jets, PL-15 air-to-air missiles, drones, and real-time intelligence. He cited remarks by Deputy Chief of Army Staff Lt Gen Rahul R Singh, who described China as one of the adversaries India confronted during the operation.
Ramesh also raised alarm over China’s construction of the 60 GW Medog dam on the Yarlung Tsangpo river, warning of its serious implications for India’s water security.
Criticising the government’s 2024 disengagement agreement with Beijing, he alleged that the deal was made against the Army’s wishes and failed to restore the status quo ante of April 2020. According to him, India has accepted buffer zones in Galwan, Hot Springs, and Pangong Tso within its own claim lines, while patrols in Depsang, Demchok, and Chumar now require Chinese concurrence.
Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) confirmed that Wang Yi will be in India from August 18–19 to hold the 24th round of Special Representatives’ talks on the boundary question with NSA Ajit Doval. He is also scheduled to meet External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar.
The visit comes ahead of Prime Minister Modi’s trip to China later this month for the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Summit beginning August 31.
