Rahul Gandhi questions Centre over Indo-China border dispute, says 'govt must come clean'

As a controversy broke on Friday after United States President Donald Trump claimed that he has spoken to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over Indo-China border dispute, former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi has said that government must 'come clean' on issue. Taking to Twitter, Wayanad MP claimed silence of government on border situation is fueling massive speculation. He said that Centre should tell 'exactly what's happening.'

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Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump offered mediation over Indo-China border row and claimed that he has spoken to Prime Minister Modi. He said that PM Modi is t in 'good mood' over current situation. However, citing government sources news ncies PTI, ANI has denied claims by Trump and said that both leaders last spoke on April 4 on topic of Hydroxychloroquine.

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India, China to defuse tension

Contarary to Rahul Gandhi's claims, as per sources, high-level Indian and Chinese military commanders met at designated points along Line of Actual Control (LAC) on May 22 and 23 to defuse present tension in Eastern Ladakh. Moreover, diplomatic channels in New Delhi and Beijing are also working towards a peaceful resolution, sources have said.

Earlier on Tuesday, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh chaired a meeting in which Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat, three Service chiefs and senior officials of Ministry of Defence participated. Moreover, PM met National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, CDS and three Service chiefs. 

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Face-off between China and India 

In face-off on May 5, scores of Indian and Chinese army personnel clashed along rrn bank of Pangong Lake and even resorted to stone-pelting. A number of soldiers on both sides sustained injuries. It was first case of troops from two sides exchanging blows after a similar incident around Pangong Lake in August 2017.

In a separate incident, nearly 150 Indian and Chinese military personnel were engd in a face-off near Naku La Pass in Sikkim sector of Si-India border on Saturday. At least 10 soldiers from both sides sustained injuries in incident. troops of India and China were engd in a 73-day stand-off in Doklam tri-junction in 2017 which even triggered fears of a war between two nuclear-armed neighbours.

Moreover, Chinese military helicopters were seen flying close to Line of Actual Control on at least a couple of occasions following clashes after which a fleet of Su-30 fighters of Indian Air Force too carried out sorties in area, sources said. re was official word on wher Su-30 jets were rushed in to carry out sorties in wake of face-off and aggressive Chinese posturing in area.  sources said Chinese military helicopters routinely carry out sorties on Chinese side of border while Indian Army helicopters also fly in area.

India-China border dispute covers 3,488-km-long Line of Actual Control, de-facto border between two countries. China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of sourn Tibet while India contests it. Both sides have been asserting that pending final resolution of boundary issue, it is necessary to maintain peace and tranquillity in border areas.

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