The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Tuesday alleged that the UPA-II Government is not serious about the Chinese incursions into Indian territory in Ladakh.
Talking to reporters after the BJP Parliamentary Party meeting in New Delhi today, senior leader and spokesman Ravi Shankar Prasad asked what kind of steps the government is planning to take through defence and diplomatic channels to resolve the issue.
Prasad”s comment came even as there have been uproarious scenes in Parliament over the issue, leading to proceedings being repeatedly stalled over the past fortnight.
On Monday, the government came in for sharp criticism over the Chinese incursion in Ladakh, with the Samajwadi Party accusing it of acting in a “cowardly” manner and objecting to the forthcoming visit of External Minister Salman Khurshid to Beijing.
Taking the lead in targeting the government, Samajwadi Party chief Mulayam Singh Yadav said the Chinese incursion was an “attack” on India which had “humiliated” the country and there should be a strong response, even if it leads to a war.
The former Defence Minister described China as the “biggest threat”, even more than Pakistan, as he demanded statement by Defence Minister AK Antony on the issue of the incursion to the extent of 19 kms in Jammu and Kashmir.
Accusing the government of being “cowardly, incompetent and good for nothing”, he took strong objection to the upcoming visit by Khurshid to Beijing asking whether he was going to “beg” there.
Khurshid is scheduled to travel to Beijing on May 9 in connection with preparations for Chinese Premier Li Keqiang”s visit here next month.
“China has again attacked (India). I have been warning continuously for eight years that China has started occupying our territory. But government is paying no heed to this,” he said during the Zero Hour amid din created by BJP members over coal block allocation issue.
He said Chief of Army Staff General Bikram Singh has said the troops are ready to throw out the intruders, but the government is not giving them the required instructions. This is demoralising the army, he said.
“We want the government to respond and immediately throw out the Chinese troops from there (Daulat Beg Oldie sector). Give directions to the Indian Army…If it leads to a war, let it be. Our Army is not weak,” he said.
He said he had raised the issue of Chinese aggression with Prime Minister Manmohan Singh several times and even hinted to Congress President Sonia Gandhi, but “regrettably” even she did not give any direction to the government. (ANI with inputs)