PM's All-Party Meet: Was There Intelligence Failure, Asks Sonia Gandhi; Mamata Banerjee Shows Solidarity

Opposition parties, including the Congress, slammed the government for not tackling the sensitive issue timely and even hiding the details about the situation from Indian citizens.

S Jaishankar briefed on the developments between stand-off with the rivalry China. (Image: Twitter)

New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday chaired a high-level meeting with presidents of 20 political parties to discuss their views on the situation along the India-China border and the death of 20 Indian soldiers in violent clashes at Galwan Valley in Ladakh on Monday night.  The all party meeting held virtually saw the participation of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, BJP president JP Nadda, Congress president Sonia Gandhi, NCP leader Sharad Pawar, TRS leader K Chandrashekhar Rao, JD (U) leader Nitish Kumar, DMK's M K Stalin, YSR Congress Party's YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and Shiv Sena leader Uddhav Thackeray among others. As per the initial report, the conference began with PM Modi and all the party leaders paying tributes to the martyred Indian soldiers who lost lives during the face-off with China's PLA troops in Galwan Valley earlier this week. News agency PTI reported that, PM Modi, Rajnath Singh and S Jaishankar were seen standing in silence as a mark of respect for the fallen army men. While External Affairs Minister Jaishankar briefed on the developments between stand-off with the rivalry China, Defence Minister Singh said that Indian soldiers displayed exemplary courage and valour in the line of duty and sacrificed their lives in the highest traditions of the Indian Army Meanwhile, opposition parties, including the Congress, slammed the government for not tackling the sensitive issue timely and even hiding the details about the situation from Indian citizens. As quoted by ANI, Sonia Gandhi said, "all party meeting should have happened much earlier. Even at this late stage we are in the dark." Congress President raised specific questions such as - What date did Chinese troops intrude? When did the Govt find out about the transgressions? Does govt not get satellite pics? Did intelligence not report about unusual activity? Moving forward, Sonia said, "Nation needs assurance that status quo ante restored. What is the current status of Mountain strike corps? Opposition parties should be briefed regularly." While some opposition party's raised their concerns and poured in their reviews on the situation, West Bengal Chief Minister and TMC President Mamata Banerjee showed her solidarity with the the Modi government. Speaking at the meeting, Mamata said, "All-party meeting is a good message for the nation. Shows that we are united behind our Jawans. TMC strongly in solidarity with the government." Moving forward, Mamata said, "China is not a democracy. They are a dictatorship. They can do what they feel. We,on the other hand, have to work together. India will win, China will lose. Speak with unity. Think with unity. Work with unity. Don’t let China enter telecom, railway and aviation sectors. We will face some problems but we won’t allow the Chinese to enter."