Credit goes to our armed forces, says Congress on reports of retreat by China at LAC in Ladakh

In wake of reports that China’s PLA has retreated two km behind the Line of Actual Control (LAC), the Congress, which has been questioning the Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Chinese transgressions, on Monday credited the armed forces for the development.

"We know that the PLA can't withstand the Indian forces, so they have retreated but the Prime Minister has to reply to tough questions," party spokesperson Pawan Khera said at a press conference on Monday.

The Prime Minister should himself come forward and tell what is the truth though in the all-party meeting, he had said that no Indian territory has been occupied, he said.

"We demand that Prime Minister should tell the facts to the nation," Khera said, assuring that his party will not raise questions if Modi says that his earlier statement in the all-party meeting was not correct.

On reports that National Security Advisor Ajit Doval spoke to Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi after which Chinese forces withdrew, Khera said that this government has to decide that it needs ministers who should do their jobs.

"What is the Foreign Minister doing?" he asked.

Taking potshots at the Modi government, Khera said there is no system in the government as sometimes businessmen talk (in case of Pakistan) and sometimes foundations talk (in case of China).

"Why did the Prime Minister visit China without agenda?" asked Khera.

Indian and Chinese troops have retreated two kilometres behind the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Galwan Valley, where 20 Indian and unknown number of Chinese soldiers were killed in a violent face-off on June 15. The disengagement between Indian and the People''s Liberation Army (PLA) happened as per the agreed terms in the Corps Commander's meeting.

Attacking Modi on the issue of Chinese investment in Gujarat, Khera said: “Gujarat has become the epicenter of Chinese investment in India and Mr. Prime Minister you hail from Gujarat. On the one hand our brave army is pushing the PLA back from the Ladakh border, and on the other hand, PSUs continue to give contracts to Chinese companies. We see Gujarat is becoming the hub of Chinese investment. We see that the process of Chinese investment in Gujarat continues.

We also witnessed 3 major MoUs in the last five years involving Rs. 43 thousand crores. One Industrial Park, the other is the Smart City Project and the Textile Park, ₹43 thousand crores of MOUs in the last five years is fine, but, in the last 20 days also the process doesn’t see any question mark, any comma, any full stop from the government. The Prime Minister comes from Gujarat, therefore the question will obviously be asked to the Prime Minister, he has a special fondness for China. We grant him that, we have no problem, he has invested in the relationship for two decades, we understand that also, provided the country’s borders remain safe, the country’s economy remains safe from China.”