The Congress party on Saturday questioned the government over the media reports claiming China has built 200 shelters in the Depsang area in Ladakh and asked what steps were being taken by it to ensure the status quo ante of April 2020. 


Addressing a press conference over the issue, Congress spokesperson Supriya Shrinate said that 18 days after PM Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping at the G20 summit, reports of China having built 200 shelters on the Indian side have come to light. 






"On November 15, Modi had met Xi Jinping, the Chinese head of state. He was not showing angry red eyes, he was in fact adorning a red shirt and I wonder what he talked about as he met Xi Jinping after the supreme sacrifice of 20 of our bravehearts," Shrinate said at a press conference at the AICC headquarters, reported PTI. 


She added that China has built temperature-regulated "shelters" in Depsang to help any army personnel to be stationed permanently. 


"Two hundred such shelters have been built by China in our territory 15-18 km inside the LAC (Line of Actual Control)," she alleged. 


Questioning why there has been no reaction so far from the Prime Minister or the Ministry of External Affairs, Shrinate said, "Remember, Depsang and Demchok are extremely strategic places for us. Also, remember China continues to occupy large parts of the territory in the Depsang area." 


She also showed photographs, claiming them to be satellite images, of "huge fortification" being done by China both on land and at sea. 


"In fact, around the Pangong Tso lake area, China has built a PLA division headquarters, a garrison, artillery, and anti-aircraft gun shelter," she mentioned. 


"China is getting emboldened by the abject pin-drop silence of Modi and the clean chit that the prime minister has given that 'nobody has entered our territory," Shrinate said. 


What steps are being taken to remove these fortifications and structures, she asked, as per PTI. 


Shrinate further asked what steps are being taken to push away the Chinese from the Depsang and Demchok areas. 


"More importantly, what is nationalism? You are so eager to issue certificates of nationalism to anybody that you warrant to. Is nationalism looking the other way and keeping the eyes shut and meeting the Chinese president with your open arms after 20 of your bravehearts have died," Shrinate said. 


Raising the issue of status quo at the site, she said, "The one question that Indian armed forces are raising, the one question several army personnel past and present are raising, defence experts are raising, is when will India return to status quo ante of April 2020 and what steps are being taken to ensure status quo ante is restored." 


She added that Congress will raise these issues in Parliament and at all forums available. 


Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge also lashed out the government over the issue.  


Taking to Twitter he said, "Narendra Modi ji gave CLEAN CHIT to China after 20 Indian bravehearts sacrificed their lives in Galwan. Another CLEAN CHIT is being drafted for brazen Chinese incursions & construction in Depsang plains, Pangong Tso Lake area & Gogra Hot Springs? Nation deserves answers PM ji." 






Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh said 60 years ago, Parliament was in session while Phase-2 of the Chinese invasion was taking place, debates were happening and the then prime minister was listening. 


"However for the past 2.5 years, Parliament has been denied any opportunity for a discussion even on the border situation…Not surprising perhaps because the PM is on record on June 19th, 2020 as saying that no Chinese incursion has taken place," Ramesh wrote in a tweet. 






Addressing a press conference here, Ramesh said there has been tension between India and China for the last 22 months and there had been no discussion in Parliament on the issue. 


He added that his party would want to deliberate the issue in the Parliament, reported PTI. 


The India-China border dispute in the eastern Ladakh region erupted on May 5, 2020, following a violent clash in the Pangong lake areas. Both sides gradually enhanced their deployment by moving in tens of thousands of soldiers and heavy weaponry. 


The disengagement process was completed last year after several rounds of military and diplomatic talks. The disengagement in the Pangong Lake area took place in February last year while the withdrawal of troops and equipment in Patrolling Point 17 (A) in Gogra took place in August last year.  


 


(With PTI Inputs)