Rajnath Singh briefs Parliament on India-China's LAC disengagement; denies losing any land

Defense Minister Rajnath Singh strongly reiterated that India h t conceded even an inch of its land to China while he me a statement in Rajya Sabha on current situation in eastern Lakh on Thursday. Apprising Upper House of military and diplomatic level talks between India and China post violent Galwan Valley clashes, Raksha Mantri ted that both sides h mutually agreed for disengment of troops from rth and south of Pangong lake. Furr, Rajnath Singh informed that both India and China would initiate process of withdrawing forward deployment of ir troops in a phased, coordinated, and verified manner. 

Raksha Mantri Rajnath Singh informed that equate counter deployments were me by India after many friction areas arose in Eastern Lakh around LAC. Lauding brave efforts of Indian Armed Forces personnel, Rajnath Singh ted that y h displayed valour and h steily faced challenges in rth and south banks of Pangong lake. He furr ted that Indian Army was guarding borders at Lakh while being positioned in inaccessible hills and in sub-zero conditions and said that it provided an edge to India. 

Rajnath Singh calls out China's occupation of and claim over Indian territories

"Let me briefly recapitulate main aspects of situation on ground. As House is aware, China illegally occupied approximately 38,000 sq. kms in Union Territory of Lakh, mainly during 1962 conflict. In dition, under so-called Si-Pakistan ‘Boundary Agreement’ of 1963, Pakistan illegally ceded 5,180 sq. kms. of Indian territory in Pakistan Occupied Kashmir to China. China, thus is in illegal occupation of more than 43,000 sq. kms of Indian territory. It also claims approximately 90,000 sq. kms. of Indian territory in Eastern Sector of India-China boundary in Arunachal Presh. India has never accepted this illegal occupation of our territory or unjustified claims", Rajnath Singh pointed out. 

Rajnath Singh details new status-quo

" agreement that we have been able to reach with Chinese side for disengment in Pangong lake area enviss that both sides will cease ir forward deployments in a phased, coordinated and verified manner.  Chinese side will keep its troop presence in rth Bank area to east of Finger 8. Reciprocally, Indian troops will be based at ir permanent base at Dhan Singh Thapa Post near Finger 3. A similar action would be taken in South Bank area by both sides. se are mutual and reciprocal steps and any structures that h been built by both sides since April 2020 in both rth and South Bank area will be removed and landforms will be restored."

"It has also been agreed to have a temporary moratorium on military activities by both sides in rth Bank, including patrolling to tritional areas. Patrolling will be resumed only when both sides reach an agreement in diplomatic and military talks that would be held subsequently. implementation of this agreement has started yesterday in rth and South Bank of Pangong Lake. It will substantially restore situation to that existing prior to commencement of standoff last year", Raksha Mantri Rajanth Singh said at Rajya Sabha. 

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Rajnath Singh pointed out that both India and China h agreed that process of disengment could be accelerated if both sides respect bilateral agreements and followed established protocols. Defence Minister told members of Upper House that nine rounds of military levels talks heed by Senior commanders from both sides were held between India and China thus far. Rajnath Singh ted that strategy and approach for India's dialogue with China was carved out of PM Modi's resolve to t let even an inch of land be occupied by foreign forces and said that two sides h reached an agreement, citing determination of government.   

"I would like to d here that India has consistently maintained that while bilateral relations can develop in parallel with discussions on resolving boundary question, any serious disturbance in peace and tranquility along LAC in border areas is bound to have verse implications for direction of our bilateral ties. Chinese side is well aware of our position. In fact, various high level Joint Statements have ackwledged this point that maintenance of peace and tranquility along LAC in border areas is a fundamental premise for development of relations", said Rajnath Singh. 

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' territory lost during talks with China'

Rajnath Singh told Rajya Sabha that India h t lost anything in process of talks with China and that re were outstanding issues regarding deployment of troops near LAC and patrolling pending to be resolved. Raksha Mantri also paid tribute to martyrs who through ir valor h ensured that process of disengment commenced. Rajnath Singh urged members of House to unite across party lines for India's unity & integrity and said that it would get India's mess across borders. 

"I am confident that this entire House, irrespective of political affiliations, is united toger for upholding our sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity and national security. And furr, this House is one in sending out same mess demonstrating strength and unity of our Nation to entire world", Rajnath Singh ded.

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LAC faceoff

 faceoff at Line of Actual Control was exacerbated when 21 Indian Army soldiers including a Commanding Officer were martyred in Galwan Valley on June 15, 2020, when de-escalation process was underway. This was followed by multiple attempts of provocation by Chinese side at end of August. Multiple rounds of military commander-level and WMCC meetings have taken place between two sides to resolve crisis. Besides this, EAM S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh have met ir respective counterparts. 

 20th meeting of  Working Mechanism for Consultation & Coordination on India-China Border Affairs (WMCC) took place on December 18, 2020. developments along LAC were reviewed and both sides agreed to work towards ensuring complete disengment as per agreements reached between respective Foreign Ministers and Special Representatives. Furrmore, y ackwledged that 7th and 8th round of military commander-level talks h contributed to ensuring "stability on ground". On January 24, 9th round of Corps Commander-level talks was held to work out a phased disengment and de-escalation plan. 

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