Kharge emphasized the Congress’s unwavering commitment to safeguarding Ladakh and ensuring national border security.
“Modi Ki Chinese Guarantee! In Ladakh, there is a strong wave of public support, with unified calls for protection for tribal communities under the sixth schedule of the Constitution.
“But like all other guarantees – ‘Modi Ki Guarantee’ to assure Constitutional rights to the people of Ladakh remains a colossal betrayal. It is nothing but fake and Chinese in nature,” the Congress chief posted on X.
Kharge’s remarks come amid climate activist Sonam Wangchuk‘s hunger strike in support of statehood and constitutional safeguards under the sixth schedule for the Union Territory of Ladakh.
Wangchuk, a prominent education reformist, has been undertaking a ‘climate fast‘ in Leh since March 6. This action follows a deadlock between the central government and joint representatives of the Leh-based Apex body and Kargil Democratic Alliance (KDA), who are leading an agitation to support four-point demands.
The sixth schedule contains provisions related to the administration of tribal areas in Assam, Meghalaya, Tripura and Mizoram through autonomous district councils.
Kharge alleged that the Modi government wants to exploit the eco-sensitive Himalayan glaciers of Ladakh and benefit its “crony friends”.
“PM Modi’s CLEAN CHIT to China after Galwan Valley, post the sacrifice of our 20 bravehearts, has emboldened the expansionist nature of China at our strategic borders (sic).
“On one hand, Modi government has put our territorial integrity and national security at risk, and on the other hand, it is attacking the Constitutional Rights of our own citizens of Ladakh,” the Congress chief claimed in his post.
On the eastern Ladakh standoff, he said despite “at least 19 rounds of one-on-one talks between PM Modi and his Chinese counterpart since 2014, Modi government has failed to ensure status quo ante before 2020”.
He claimed that China continues to occupy Indian territory at Depsang Plains, Hot Springs and Gogra regions.
Congress general secretary in-charge communications Jairam Ramesh also attacked the government over its China policy and posed questions to the prime minister.
“On June 19, 2020, at the all-party meet on China, the prime minister declared that not a single Chinese soldier had crossed over into Indian territory. However, Chinese forces continue to deny our patrols access to the strategic Depsang Plains to which we previously had unimpeded access,” he alleged.
“There have been multiple instances of PLA troops kidnapping Indian citizens on Indian soil, with a BJP MP from Arunachal Pradesh also alleging that the PLA had abducted 19-year-old Miram Taron for ten days in 2022,” Ramesh said on X.
During the Bharat Jodo Nyay Yatra in Itanagar, Rahul Gandhi also met the family of Tapor Pullom, who has been missing since he was abducted by the PLA in 2015, he noted.
“By giving a public clean chit to China, the prime minister has tied his own hands and failed to take action and restore the status quo after Chinese aggression.
“Was the prime minister lying to the people back then? Why have we not been more aggressive and made counter-intrusions that can hold the line and compel the Chinese to withdraw fully as we did in 1986 and 2013?” he said.
(With inputs from agencies)
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