India & China committed to peace: Rajnath, BJD MP calls for united approach
New Delhi, : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday said that not only India-China border, for the entire international border the country should feel assured and safe and asserted that both the countries are respecting the existing agreements to maintain peace and tranquility at the border.
“I fail to understand why he (Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury) raised the issue on the floor of the Lok Sabha,” Mr Singh said making a brief intervention in the House during Zero Hour.
Speaking on the occasion, senior parliamentarian Bhartruhari Mahtab said the House should extend “full support to our Prime Minister’s (Modi) endeavour” vis-a-vis diplomacy and “we should speak in one voice”.
There has been generally an atmosphere of peace between India and China at the borders but there has been ‘differences’ in perception at the Line of Actual Control from time to time at the local levels, Defence Minister said.
There are mechanisms between two countries to settle these differences, he, however maintained.
Referring to Informal Summit between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping held last year, he said it was underlined during the occasion that both sides will maintain “peace and tranquility”.
Both the countries at later stage also issued ‘strategic guidance’ to the armed forces in both sides, Mr Rajnath said.
“The government of India is fully sensitive to the issue of national security,” Defence Minister said adding “I want to assure the House categorically on this”.
He further said infrastructure like roads, tunnels, railway lines and airfields are being developed on the border of India and China to ensure the sovereignty and security of the nation.
“Even without taking name of Demchok, I have clarified the issue you have raised,” he told Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, who raising the matter during Zero Hour said China has been continuing with its aggressive policy.
Defence Minister’s remarks came close on the heels Army chief Gen Bipin Rawat having stated a few days back that there was no transgression by China at Demchok sector.
“….they have entered Indian territory and they even planted flag. This is a matter of great concern,” Mr Chowdhury alleged in the House.
“India and China are honouring the agreements and mutual understanding, so that peace and tranquility is maintained at the border,” Defence Minister asserted.
Speaking on the occasion, Biju Janata Dal member Bhartruhari Mahtab said at the G20 meet between Prime Minister Modi and the US President Donald Trump, it was emphasised that both sides will maintain good relations despite some differences.
He referred to trilateral meetings between Modi, Trump and Japanese PM Shinzo Abe and another one between Russian leader Vladimir Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping and said these meetings and BRICS Summit also have demonstrated that there is “convergence of interests”.
“We are opposed to protectionism and unilateralism,” he said.
“We look for issue based coalitions,” said the senior parliamentarian adding there has to be “unanimity in the political sphere” when it comes to deal with the foreign policy of the country.
“Therefore, I urge upon this House to extend full support to our Prime Minister’s (Modi) endeavour in his regard and we should speak in one voice,” the lawmaker from Cuttack in Odisha underlined.
UNI.