India-China standoff: Amid the ongoing standoff between India and China in Ladakh, reports that China has built a village in Arunachal Pradesh, has set off political buzz over national security issue.


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A report by US-based imaging company Planet Labs has released satellite images and claimed that around 100 houses have been built along the river Tsari Chru in Arunachal Pradesh. It said that there was no construction at a particular place in 2019.


The India-China border dispute covers the 3,488-km-long Line of Actual Control (LAC). China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of southern Tibet, while India contests it.


MEA’s response:


In a cautious reaction to the reports, the Ministry of External Affairs said that the government has seen the reports and said that India has significantly stepped up building infrastructure projects in the border areas for the improvement of the livelihood of the residents there.


India said it keeps a constant watch on all developments having a bearing on the country's security, and takes necessary measures to safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity.


Congres leaders attack Govt:


Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Tuesday attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi. "Remember his promise - ? (Will not let the country bow)," Gandhi said on Twitter as he posted a link of a news report about the alleged "Chinese village". Randeep Surjewala also slammed the prime minister on the matter. "Modiji where is that 56-inch chest," he asked on Twitter.

P Chidambaram also demanded answers from the government on the issue, alleging that BJP MP Tapir Gao has claimed that China has built a 100-house village in the "disputed area" deep into Arunachal Pradesh. He said if the allegation made out by the BJP MP is true, will the government again give a clean chit to China or will blame the previous governments for it.


<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Mr Tapir Gao MP, belonging to BJP, has alleged that deep into Arunachal Pradesh, in a <br>‘disputed area’ within Indian territory, the Chinese have built a 100-house village, a bazaar and a two-lane road in the last year.</p>&mdash; P. Chidambaram (@PChidambaram_IN) <a >January 18, 2021</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>