Disinformation is no substitute for diplomacy: Manmohan tells Modi

New Delhi

In a statement, he also reminded the Government that disinformation is no substitute for diplomacy or decisive leadership. “The truth cannot be suppressed by having pliant allies spout comforting but false statements,” he said. In an apparent reference to Modi’s remarks that there has been no Chinese intrusion into the Galwan valley, Singh said the sacrifice of the Indian soldiers cannot be allowed to be in vain.

“At this moment, we stand at historic cross-roads. Our Government’s decisions and actions will have serious bearings on how the future generations perceive us. Those who lead us bear the weight of a solemn duty. And in our democracy that responsibility rests with the office of the Prime Minister,” he said.

Singh said the Prime Minister must always be mindful of the implications of his words and declarations on the nation’s security as also strategic and territorial interests.

“China is brazenly and illegally seeking to claim parts of Indian territory such as the Galwan Valley and the Pangong Tso Lake by committing multiple incursions between April, 2020 till date. “We cannot and will not be cowed down by threats and intimidation nor permit a compromise with our territorial integrity. The Prime Minister cannot allow them to use his words as a vindication of their position and must ensure that all organs of the Government work together to tackle this crisis and prevent it from escalating further,” he said.

Ex-PM presided over 600 incursions, Nadda reminds
In a scathing counter-attack on Manmohan Singh, BJP president J P Nadda said on Monday that he as prime minister “abjectly surrendered” hundreds of square kilometres of India’s land to China and presided over 600 incursions made by the neighbouring country between 2010 and 2013. In a series of tweets after Singh took aim at Prime Minister over his handling of the ongoing stand-off with China, Nadda said the senior Congress leader and his party should stop “insulting” our forces repeatedly and questioning their valour.

They did this post the air strikes and surgical strikes, the BJP president said, asking the Congress to understand the true meaning of national unity, especially in such times. Incursions from China have been common, and the UPA and then the BJP-led NDA government, which came to power in 2014, have played them down, saying armies of both countries often entered into each other’s territory because of their different perceptions about the Line of Actual Control.

Hitting out at Singh, Nadda said, “Dr Manmohan Singh belongs to the same party which: Helplessly surrendered over 43,000 km of Indian territory to the Chinese! During the UPA years saw abject territorial surrender without a fight. Time and again belittles our forces”.

Nadda said Singh’s statement is mere “wordplay”. “Sadly, the conduct and actions of top leaders of the Congress party will not make any Indian believe such statements,” he added.