LAC Stand-Off: Prime Minister's Remarks Misinterpreted Asserts PMO

New Delhi: The Prime Minister's Office (PMO) on Saturday, issued a clarification on what it described as a "mischievous interpretation to remarks by the Prime Minister at the All-Party Meeting (APM) on Friday. The PMO statement points out that the Prime Minister had "emphasized that in contrast to the past neglect of such challenges, Indian forces now decisively counter any violations of Line of Actual Control (LAC)."

The PMO clarification also states that "the APM was also informed that this time, Chinese forces have come in much larger strength to the LAC and that the Indian response is commensurate. As regards transgression of LAC, it was clearly stated that the violence in Galwan on June 15 arose because the Chinese side was seeking to erect structures just across the LAC and refused to desist from such actions," the PMO statement further said.

The PMO clarification recalled that "the APM was briefed in great detail how over the last 60 years more than 43,000 sq.km has been yielded under circumstances with which this country is well aware. It was also made clear that this Government will not allow any unilateral change of the LAC," it added.

The PMO statement decried attempts at creating an "unnecessary controversy" to lower the morale of "our brave soldiers" and also acknowledged that the predominant sentiment at the All Party Meeting was of unequivocal support to the Government and the armed forces at a time of national crisis." The unity of the Indian people "will not be undermined by such motivated propaganda", it concluded.

It may be recalled that Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and P. Chidambaram were among leaders who criticised PM Modi and questioned his statement that there had been no incursions in Ladakh. Rahul Gandhi accused PM Modi of surrendering land to the Chinese by making this assertion.

The PMO clarification clears the air on the essence of the Prime Minister's statement and seeks to put it in perspective.

A few hours after Prime Minister Narendra Modi told political leaders at an all-party meeting on Friday that India would defend every inch of its territory and that there had been no border incursions, the Chinese foreign ministry put out a statement laying claim to the Galwan Valley in Eastern Ladakh.