Prime Minister: No intrusion, soldiers defended our borders bravely

New Delhi

“The country today has such capability that no one can even dare look towards an inch of our land,” he told at the all-party meeting convened by him in the wake of the killing of 20 Indian soldiers by the Chinese army in the Galvan Valley in Ladakh on Monday night. The meeting, which went on for four hours, saw major parties including TMC, JD(U), BJD and TRS backing the Centre. However, Opposition parties like the RJD, AAP and AIMIM reacted strongly over not being invited and raised questions over the criteria for the invitation.

The Prime Minister said that today Indian forces are capable of moving together across sectors. While on the one hand, the Army has been given freedom to take necessary steps, India has also conveyed its position clearly to China through diplomatic means, he said. He underscored that India wants peace and friendship but upholding sovereignty is foremost. He said the soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice taught a “lesson” to those who had dared to look towards India. He also said that the entire country “is hurt and angry at the steps taken by China at LAC.”

Political leaders from TN also expressed solidarity with Modi at the meeting. Deputy Chief Minister O Panneerselvam represented AIADMK while DMK chief MK Stalin represented the opposition. Both parties took a similar stand on the dispute. “The PM is leading the nation at a particularly difficult time. I thank him for his exemplary leadership,” said Panneerselvam. Stalin said, “I welcome the PM’s statement that India will protect her self-respect and territory from external aggression.”

China cautious on boycott calls
China on Friday reacted guardedly to calls for a boycott of Chinese products and investments in India, saying it values its relations with India and both countries are in talks to ease the situation. The growing anti-India sentiment is causing a sense of disquiet in China especially among its telecom companies. China is the biggest beneficiary of the bilateral trade with India, with about $60 billion balance of trade in its favour in about $92.68 total trade in 2019.