Rajnath questions govt silence on Chinese intrusions

New Delhi, Sep 13 (PTI) Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)
President Rajnath Singh has expressed grave concern over
reports of Chinese intrusions into Indian territory and
accused the Centre of keeping mum on the issue.

"Why is the Congress leadership mum on the issue? The
Army chief was compelled to speak. That General Deepak Kapoor
had to express concern shows the situation is serious. The
political leadership should be expressing this concern," Singh
told PTI.

He said the government should register its protest with
China about repeated intrusions by Chinese army into Indian
territory.

"The Chinese ambassador should be summoned and the
protest registered," Singh said, adding, India could also
build diplomatic pressure on China.

The BJP leader said in 1962 also India was in denial when
China intruded into the country.

General Kapoor had stated last week that Chinese
intrusions did take place but tempered his statement, saying
this is done by both the armies often due to differing
perceptions of Line of Actual Control. However, he was
concerned about increase in Chinese intrusions and painting of
"China" on rocks in Indian territory, which happened for the
first time.

General Kapoor said India had taken up this matter
with China in their border personnel meeting.

Demanding that the Indian government come clean on the
issue, Singh said, "India has suffered once in 1962 when the
then government was not ready to accept (Chinese incursions
into Indian territory)."

India had to face a humiliating defeat in the war that
ensued after China encroached on Indian territory.

Singh reminded that then Indian Prime Minister
Jawaharlal Nehru had said there was nothing to worry. "They
tried to push everything under the carpet for which India had
to face consequences," Singh said.

Recently, Indian naval chief (now retired) Sureesh
Mehta had also spoken about India's position vis-a-vis China.
"We neither have the intention nor the capability to match up
with China, force by force," he said, but warned that China
could get assertive in its territorial claims in the
neighbourhood following its defence modernisation.

However, India's External Affairs Minister S M Krishna
seemed to dismiss these views when he said India-China border
is peaceful. PTI RC
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