China making exaggerated claims: Ministry of External Affairs
India on Saturday rejected China’s claim of sovereignty over the Galwan valley area on the Line of Actual Control and said attempts by the Chinese side to now advance “exaggerated and untenable claims” with regard to LAC are “not acceptable”.
New Delhi
The ministry also said the two sides are in regular touch and early meetings of military and diplomatic mechanisms are currently being discussed. It said India expects that Chinese side will sincerely follow understanding reached between the Foreign Ministers to ensure peace and tranquility in the border areas, which is so essential for overall development of bilateral relations.
The External Affairs Ministry’s statement comes a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s statement at the all party meeting yesterday that there was no Chinese intrusion and the Congress’ demand that the government clarify its position on Chinese claims of sovereignty over the Galvan valley in Ladakh.
Responding to media queries on the statement issued on Friday by the Chinese Spokesperson on the events in the Galwan valley area, MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said, “The position with regard to the Galwan Valley area has been historically clear. Attempts by China and to now exaggerated and untenable claims with regard to Line of Actual Control (LAC) there are not acceptable.”
He said Indian troops are fully familiar with the alignment of the LAC in all sectors of the India-China border areas, including in the Galwan Valley. They abide by it scrupulously here, as they do elsewhere. “The Indian side has never undertaken any actions across the LAC. All infrastructure built by India is naturally on its own side of the LAC,” the MEA statement said.
The ministry said since early May, 2020 the Chinese side has been hindering India’s normal, traditional patrolling pattern in this area. This had resulted in a face-off which was addressed by the ground commanders as per the provisions of the bilateral agreements and protocols.
“We do not accept the contention that India was unilaterally changing the status quo. On the contrary, we were maintaining it.”
Amid growing tensions between India and China, the finance ministry has proposed putting restrictions on pension fund investments from any of India›s bordering countries. Foreign investment in pension funds regulated by the Pension Fund Regulatory and Development Authority (PFRDA) is capped at 49 per cent under the automatic route. According to a draft notification circulated for comments on Friday, “A government approval would be required for the investing entity or individual from any of the bordering countries including China. The relevant provisions of FDI policy issued from time to time would apply in all such cases.” Any foreign investment from these countries will be subject to approval from the government. The restriction would be applicable from the date of notification by the Government of India.
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