Efforts on to maintain peace with China on LAC: Rajnath in Lok Sabha

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Rajnath Singh. File photo

New Delhi, July 17: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said India and China are respecting bilateral pacts and efforts are on to maintain peace and tranquility on the Line of Actual Control (LAC). 

Singh said that Indians should be assured of their safety and security. The Defence Minister was addressing the Lok Sabha in response to Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhary’s questions regarding reports of tension at LAC in the Demchok sector.  

Singh said the Indian government was “completely alert” and that there were several mechanisms to resolve issues arising with China on LAC.  

The Defence Minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping had a summit meeting at Wuhan where it was decided that peace and tranqullity will be maintained at the border. Singh said specific guidance has been given to respective armies so that peace is maintained and the border is managed properly. 

“India and China are respecting bilateral pacts to ensure peace and tranquillity along border,” he said.  Doklam, he said, happened in 2017 and the government has already given details about the incident.  The Congress had filed an adjournment motion in the Lok Sabha over “tension at Indo-China border” despite Army Chief Bipin Rawat clarifying that there is no such situation.  

Chowdhary raised the issue under matters of public importance.   Following reports of Chinese intrusion on LAC, the Army Chief had said on July 13: “There has been no intrusion.

Chinese come and patrol their perceived line of actual control, which we try and prevent. We try and attempt to reach out to our line of actual control which has been given to us. 

Celebrations were underway on our side by some Tibetans in Demchok sector. Based on that, to see what was happening, some Chinese also came opposite side. Everything is normal.”  —with PTI.