PMO hits out at 'mischievous interpretation' of Modi's remarks at all-party meet

Terming the criticism over Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s remarks at yesterday’s all-party meeting as “mischievous interpretation” the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) on Saturday (June 20) issued a clarification.

PM had after the all-party meet said no one has entered Indian territory or captured any military post while referring to the Galwan Valley clash in eastern Ladakh

In a statement, the PMO said the focus of Modi’s remarks at the meeting on Friday was the events of June 15 at Galwan that led to the loss of lives of 20 Indian military personnel.

“The prime minister’s observations that there was no Chinese presence on our side of the LAC (Line of Actual Control) pertained to the situation as a consequence of the bravery of our armed forces,” it said.

Congress as well as a number of strategic affairs experts raised questions over Modi’s remarks asking if there was no transgression by the Chinese military in Galwan Valley then where did Indian soldiers die. They also wondered whether Modi gave a clean chit to China over the standoff.

Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted this morning, “PM has surrendered Indian territory to Chinese aggression. If the land was Chinese: 1. Why were our soldiers killed? 2. Where were they killed?”

PM has surrendered Indian territory to Chinese aggression.

If the land was Chinese:
1. Why were our soldiers killed?
2. Where were they killed? pic.twitter.com/vZFVqtu3fD

— Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) June 20, 2020

Senior Congress leader and former P Chidambaram also hit out at the PM’s statement saying, “If no Chinese troops had crossed the LAC into Indian territory, why did Foreign Minister Jaishankar’s statement refer to restoration of status quo ante?”

PM said there is no foreigner (meaning Chinese) in Indian territory. If this is true, what was the fuss about May 5-6? Why was there a fight between troops on June 16-17? Why did India lose 20 lives?

— P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) June 20, 2020

“The sacrifices of the soldiers of the 16 Bihar Regiment foiled the attempt of the Chinese side to erect structures and also cleared the attempted transgression at this point of the LAC on that day,” the PMO said.

“The words of the prime minister those who tried to transgress our land were taught a befitting lesson by our brave sons of the soil, succinctly summed up the ethos and the values of our armed forces,” it said.

Related news: No one intruded into India or has taken over any post: PM in all-party meet

The PMO said Modi assured that India’s armed forces will leave no stone unturned to protect the country’s borders.

“Attempts are being made in some quarters to give a mischievous interpretation to remarks by the prime minister at the all-party meeting on Friday,” it said.