China says India has 'hidden agenda' in Sikkim stand-off; Cong seeks response from BJP

Prime Minister Narendra Modi (R) and Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) (Photo: PTI/File)

New Delhi: China virtually accused India of having a "hidden agenda" in the current military stand-off with it in the Sikkim sector where Beijing has a territorial dispute with Bhutan. Taking a dig at India, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said that Bhutan is a universally recognised sovereign country. Lu also hinted that India was objecting to China's efforts to build the road in Donglang area of the Sikkim sector on behalf of Bhutan which does not have diplomatic ties with Beijing. "Hope countries can respect the sovereignty of the country. The China-Bhutan boundary is not delineated, no third party should interfere in this matter and make irresponsible remarks or actions," he said. "If any third party, out of hidden agenda, interferes it is disrespect of the sovereignty of Bhutan. We don't want to see this as Bhutan is a country entitled to sovereignty by the international community," Lu said. At a regular foreign ministry briefing, Lu also termed the construction of a road in the Sikkim sector as "legitimate" and asserted that it was being built on Chinese territory that neither belongs to India nor Bhutan and no other country had the right to interfere. "Donglang is part of China's territory. This is indisputable. The Donglang area belonged to China since ancient times and it doesn't belong to Bhutan," Lu said. "India wants to raise an issue with this part. I should say it doesn't belong to Bhutan, nor it belongs to India. So we have complete legal basis for this. Chinese construction of the road project is legitimate and normal action on its territory. No other country has the right to interfere," he said while replying to a question. About Donglang: Donglang is located in a tri-junction close to the strategic area called Chicken's Neck. Donglang is under China's control. China says that the Sikkim part of the India-China boundary is settled and therefore India has no right to object over the road construction. Meanwhile, the Congress on Wednesday questioned the Modi government's silence on China's move to stop Indian pilgrims from travelling to Kailash Mansarovar and incursions by Chinese troops into Indian territory, and demanded its response. "Now that China had stopped 'Mansarovar Yatra'. The government is totally mum on it also," said Leader of Opposition in Rajya Sabha Ghulam Nabi Azad in a press conference "Government has not taken any steps. The Chinese incursions into our territory in Sikkim and reports of stoppage of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra have hurt and shocked the entire nation. "The BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi who used to, at the slightest, make such a hue and cry are keeping totally silent now. They have to break their silence on this, the nation demands it," he added. China on Tuesday said it stopped Indian pilgrims from travelling to Kailash Mansarovar due to the ongoing face-off between the troops of the two nations and accused Indian soldiers of crossing the Chinese border.