Afaq Bhat
Srinagar, June 17: Most mainstream leaders in Kashmir, including Omar Abdullah, Farooq Abdullah, Sajad Lone and others who were released during the past few months have gone into a silent mode.
An analyst while talking to Precious Kashmir said, “Politicians, who used to comment on every issue prior to August 5, 2019 (when Centre revoked J&K’s special status and bifurcated it into two union territories) now don’t even talk about the issues which touch the skin of a common man.”
He said, “It appears that Kashmiri leaders are in no mood to say anything which can put them in trouble. They don’t want to venture into troubled waters anymore and have taken a back seat.”
An observer said that bureaucrat turned politician, Shah Faesal, who had actively participated in all the activities prior to August 5, 2019 after his release from detention has not issued a single statement. “Peoples Conference led by Sajad Lone issues statements occasionally but it to seems to have lost that enthusiasm. The new faces and parties which had emerged as alternatives for NC and PDP are slowly becoming a history,” he added.
“Political activities in J&K have come to a grinding halt. Omar Abdullah has been camping in New Delhi for nearly a month now. He also seems in no mood to return. His father Dr Farooq Abdullah, who was known for taking anyone head on, too seems to have gone into an oblivion,” the observer said.
Another analyst said, “Barring Jammu and Kashmir Apni Party none of the Kashmir based parties seem to be that active. Last month a senior NC leader, Aga Ruhullah had pointed out that the silence being maintained by the party’s top leadership is not taking National Conference anywhere. He (Aga Ruhullah) had even removed the NC chief spokesman designation from his twitter account.”
He said, “Post August 5, 2019, politicians in Kashmir have become uncomfortable. Ouster of the Peoples Conference leader Junaid Mattu from Srinagar Mayor’s office is an indication that regional parties in the Valley have lost grip over the political system. More than anything else these parties are fighting for survival. Political activities have also been hit by the outbreak of COVID-19 in the Valley. Another factor, which has hampered the revival of these parties is that there is no certainty about when the assembly elections will be held. No polls can take place till the delimitation process is completed. But the political parties need to put their act together to make an appearance on Kashmir’s political scene.”
Ladakh Standoff: India capable of giving befitting reply: PM Modi
‘Sacrifices of soldiers won’t go in vain’
New Delhi, June 17: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday assured the nation that the sacrifice of 20 Indian soldiers, who died in a violent face-off with the Chinese troops in the Galwan valley, will not go in vain.
He also said that India wants peace but is capable of giving a befitting reply, if instigated.
On the second day of virtual meeting with the several chief ministers on COVID-19 situation, the Prime Minister said, “I would like to assure the nation that the sacrifice of our jawans will not be in vain. For us, the unity and sovereignty of the country is the most important. India wants peace, but it is capable of giving a befitting reply if instigated.”
Stating that valour and bravery are part of India’s character, he added, “We have always tried to ensure that difference do not turn into a dispute. We never instigate anyone. But we never compromise on our country’s integrity and sovereignty either. Valour and bravery are part of India’s character. We have always displayed our capabilities when necessary.”
The Prime Minister and all Chief Ministers observed two minutes of silence as a tribute to the Army personnel killed in action in the Galwan Valley in Eastern Ladakh on June 15-16.
China claims sovereignty over Galwan Valley
Beijing, June 17: China on Wednesday claimed that the sovereignty of the Galwan Valley area in Ladakh “always belonged to it,” a day after the armies of the two countries were engaged in a violent face-off.
The External Affairs Ministry on Tuesday said the violent confrontation between armies of India and China in eastern Ladakh was the result of an attempt by the Chinese side to unilaterally change the status quo in the region.
The ministry said both sides suffered casualties that could have been avoided had the agreement arrived earlier at the higher level been scrupulously followed by the Chinese side.
At a briefing at the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Spokesman Zhao Lijian refused to comment on reports of 43 casualties on the Chinese side during the face-off in the Galwan Valley on Monday night. “The border troops are dealing with relevant matter,” he said.
When pointed out that the India has released the number of casualties and why Beijing was not providing the number for Chinese side, he said, “I I have stated that Chinese and Indian border troops are now jointly dealing with the relevant matter on the ground. I have nothing to add at the moment.”
On the situation at the China-India border both sides are having close communication with each other resolving this through diplomatic and military channels, Zhao said.
“The overall border situation is stable and controllable,” he told correspondents to a volley of questions.
Twenty Indian Army personnel, including a Colonel, were killed in the clash with Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley on Monday night, the biggest military confrontation in over five decades that has significantly escalated the already volatile border standoff between the two countries.
A large number of Indian and Chinese troops have been engaged in an eyeball-to-eyeball situation in Galwan Valley and certain other areas of eastern Ladakh for the last five weeks, including in Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley, Demchok and Daulat Beg Oldie in eastern Ladakh.
China has entered 8-kms inside Pangong: Chering Dorjay
KINS
Srinagar, June 17: The situation in Ladakh is turning grim as China claims sovereignty over Galwan Valley and according to the top ladakh leader, China soldiers have entered eight-kilometres inside Pangong on the Indian side.
“I don’t think things will get settled easily. China is claiming sovereignty over Galwan. They have also entered eight kilometers inside Pangong on our side. They have also made permanent structures there. I don’t know whether things will be settled by talks or by small scale war. I think this stand-off will continue till Chinese troopers don’t vacate these places,” former Chief Executive Councilor (CEC) of Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, Chering Dorjay, told news agency Kashmir Indepth News Service (KINS).
Dorjey, who was the minister in the Mehbooba Mufti-led cabinet in Jammu and Kashmir and recently resigned from the BJP said, “The commanders of both armies had decided they will retreat 2.5 kilometres from the existing position in Galwan. When Indian army personnel went there, the Chinese troopers were ready there and attacked our army with sharp edged weapons.”
The Galwan Valley area comes under Sub Sector North (SSN), which lies just to the east of the Siachen glacier and is the only point that provides direct access to Aksai China from India.
Asked that a Chinese expert has linked the stand-off between Indian and Chinese army with abrogation of Article 370, he replied, “Yes some people link it with Article 370 because China has objected to it. China has also objected to construction of roads there.”
Twenty Indian Army men, including a Colonel, were killed in the clash with Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley on Monday night, which is the biggest military confrontation in over five decades that has significantly escalated the already volatile border standoff between the two countries.
A large number of Indian and Chinese troops have been engaged in an eyeball-to-eyeball situation in Galwan Valley and certain other areas of eastern Ladakh for the last five weeks, including in Pangong Tso, Galwan Valley, Demchok and Daulat Beg Oldie in eastern Ladakh.
Monday’s face-off was the biggest confrontation between the two militaries after their 1967 clashes in Nathu La when India lost around 80 soldiers while over 300 Chinese army personnel were killed in the confrontation.
Meanwhile, China on Wednesday claimed that the sovereignty over the Galwan Valley area in Ladakh “always belonged to it” but underlined that Beijing does not wish to see “more clashes,” after the militaries of the two countries were engaged in the biggest confrontation in over five decades.
At a briefing at the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Spokesman Zhao Lijian said the “sovereignty of the Galwan Valley area has always belonged to China,” echoing a statement of the Chinese military on Tuesday, opening up another dispute.
This is not for the first time that there has been a face-off between the Chinese and the Indian army on the LAC in Ladakh. On the intervening night of April 15 and 16, 2013, PLA crossed 19 kilometres deep inside the Indian Territory at Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) sector on LAC in Ladakh and set up tented posts. The 20-day old standoff ended on May 5, 2013, when troops from both sides withdrew to the pre-incursion positions on the line of actual control.
On November 3, 2016, Indian and Chinese troops were locked in a tense standoff along the Line of Actual Control in the Demchok sector of Ladakh after the People Liberation Army (PLA) objected to the construction of a developmental project.
In 2012, the Chinese army forced the Jammu and Kashmir government to suspend the work on a prestigious irrigation scheme at the Kuyul-Thuksey area of Nyoma block in Leh district of Ladakh division.
In 2010, the Chinese army forced the Jammu and Kashmir government to suspend work on the passenger sheds which were being constructed near the Sino-Indo border in the Demchok area in Leh district of Ladakh region.
In 2011, Chinese troops crossed the border and threatened the nomads who were grazing their cattle near the border.
Launch surgical strike on China: BJP’s Sofi Yousuf urges PM Modi
Rouf Dar
Anantnag, June 17: At a time when military commanders of China and India are finding ways to de-escalate the tension between the two sides in the wake of deadly face-off in Galwan Valley in Ladakh that saw killing of 20 Indian soldiers including an officer, senior BJP leader in Kashmir Sofi Muhammad Yousuf Wednesday strongly advocated “a surgical strike on China” to avenge the killings.
“Yesterday, Chinese army killed 20 Indian soldiers including an officer. The action was responded effectively by the Indian army that many Chinese soldiers were killed as well,” Sofi Yousuf told KINS.
He said that it’s time to avenge the killings. “My appeal to the Prime Minister Narender Modiji is to launch a massive surgical strike on the Chinese army to avenge the killing of our 20 soldiers including an officer. If Chinese army has killed our 20 soldiers, our army should kill their 2000 army men to teach them a lesson,” Sofi Yousuf said. “The way our army taught a lesson by going inside Pakistan and by launching a surgical strike there. There should be a strike on the same lines.”
He said that Chinese army must go back to their territory without any delay if they want peace at the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh.
Taking a dig at Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, Sofi Yousuf said that it’s not 1965 war today, when the then Prime Minister Jawhar Lal Nehru begged before Chinese army not to attack India. “Today, our Prime Minister is Modiji who is committed to protect the nation’s territorial integrity by all means,” he said, adding that there is no question of “entering into any pact that challenges the country’s sovereignty.”
Chinese products have been torched by the Indian citizens across India. “China is facing huge losses ever since Indian citizens started boycotting the Chinese products. Imagine 1.30 Crore Indian citizens boycotting Chinese products. Chinese economy will shrink with each passing day,” said Sofi Yousuf, the former MLC of BJP.
Chinese side took pre-meditated action: Jaishankar to Wang Yi
New Delhi, June 17: Conveying its strongest protest on the violent face-off in Galwan Valley, India on Wednesday said that the Chinese side took pre-meditated and planned action in the valley with an intent to change the facts on ground in violation of all agreements not to change the status quo.
On June 15-16, a violent face-off took place in which 20 Indian soldiers were killed by the China’s PLA.
External Affairs Minister and the State Councillor and Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi had a phone conversation on Wednesday on recent developments in Ladakh.
Jaishankar recalled that at the meeting of senior Military Commanders held on 6th June, an agreement was reached on de-escalation and disengagement along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
“Ground commanders were meeting regularly to implement this consensus throughout the last week. While there was some progress, the Chinese side sought to erect a structure in Galwan valley on our side of the LAC. While this became a source of dispute, the Chinese side took pre-meditated and planned action that was directly responsible for the resulting violence and casualties,” Jaishankar told his Chinese counterpart.
It reflected an intent to change the facts on ground in violation of all our agreements to not change the status quo.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said that the minister underlined that this unprecedented development will have a serious impact on the bilateral relationship. “The need of the hour was for the Chinese side to reassess its actions and take corrective steps. The two sides should scrupulously and sincerely implement the understanding that was reached by the Senior Commanders on 6th June.”
Troops of both sides should also abide by the bilateral agreements and protocols. They should strictly respect and observe the line of actual control and should not take any unilateral action to alter it, it added.
Chinese government mouthpiece Global Times quoting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said “China urged India to investigate the clash incident in the border region on Monday, punish those responsible, and restrain its military forces in the region to prevent any provocative actions.”
“India must make sure similar incidents as that on Monday do not happen again. India must also not miscalculate the current situation, and not underestimate China’s determination to safeguard its sovereignty and territory,” the mouthpiece added.
Later, both sides agreed that the overall situation would be handled in a responsible manner, and both sides would implement the disengagement understanding of June 6 sincerely. “Neither side would take any action to escalate matters and instead, ensure peace and tranquility as per bilateral agreements and protocols,” it added.
Tell truth about India-China border situation: Sonia to PM
New Delhi, June 17: Condoling the death of 20 Indian soldiers in a violent face-off between India and China in the Galwan valley, Congress president Sonia Gandhi on Wednesday asked Prime Minister Narendra Modi to come forward and tell the nation the truth about the India-China border situation.
In a video message, Gandhi said that the sacrifice of 20 jawans has shaken the conscience of the nation. ‘For the last one-and-a-half months, the Chinese Army has infiltrated the Indian border in Ladakh. Today, when there is a lot of resentment in the country over this incident, the Prime Minister should come forward and tell the country the truth about how China occupied our land and why 20 soldiers were killed?
‘What is the situation today on the spot? Are our military officers or soldiers still missing? How many of our military officers and soldiers are seriously injured?
‘And how much and where has China captured? What is the Indian government’s thoughts, policies and solution to deal with this situation?”
Ahead of an all-party meeting called by the Prime Minister on Friday over the India-China face-off in Ladakh, the Congress president assured the government of her party’s support in the “moment of crisis”.
‘We assure that in this hour of crisis, the Congress party is fully with our army, soldiers, military families and the government. I am sure that in this challenging time the whole country will unitedly face the enemy. I also urge the Prime Minister to come before the country and assure the country on the basis of truth and facts in this hour of crisis,’she said.
Gandhi paid her condolences to the families of the 20 soldiers who lost their lives along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
PM calls all-party meeting tomorrow
New Delhi, June 17: Prime Minister Narendra Modi will hold an all-party meeting on June 19 to discuss the stand-off on the India-China border, which claimed lives of 20 Indian soldiers.
‘In order to discuss the situation in the India-China border areas, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for an all-party meeting at 5 PM on 19th June. Presidents of various political parties would take part in this virtual meeting,’ the Prime Minister’s office said in a tweet on Wednesday.
The decision comes a day after 20 Indian soldiers were killed in a border clash with the Chinese soldiers in Galwan Valley in Ladakh.
India and China have been engaged in a stand-off for over a month, after China advanced its troops along the LAC and transgressed it at multiple locations in Eastern Ladakh.
Following the standoff in eastern Ladakh, the two sides have deployed additional troops along the LAC, the de-facto Sino-India border, in North Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh.
Both the sides had held a series of talks in the last few days to resolve the row.
Loss of soldiers deeply painful: Rajnath
New Delhi, June 17: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Wednesday termed the loss of 20 Indian Army soldiers in a violent face-off with Chinese troops at Ladahk’s Galwan Valley ‘deeply disturbing and painful’.
‘The loss of soldiers in Galwan is deeply disturbing and painful. Our soldiers displayed exemplary courage and valour in the line of duty and sacrificed their lives in the highest traditions of the Indian Army,’ Mr Singh said in a tweet.
‘The Nation will never forget their bravery and sacrifice. My heart goes out to the families of the fallen soldiers. The nation stands shoulder to shoulder with them in this difficult hour. We are proud of the bravery and courage of India’s bravehearts,’ he said in another tweet.
India and China have been engaged in a stand-off for over a month, after China advanced its troops along the LAC and transgressed it at multiple locations in Eastern Ladakh.
Following the standoff in eastern Ladakh, the two sides have deployed additional troops along the LAC, the de-facto Sino-India border, in North Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh.
Both the sides had held a series of talks in the last few days to resolve the row.
Entire nation stands firmly with families of martyrs: Shah
New Delhi, June 17: Expressing his deepest condolences to the Indian Army’s brave martyrs of Galwan, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that entire nation and Modi Government stand firmly with martyrs families in this hours of griefs.
Taking to twitter, he said “The pain of losing our brave soldiers while protecting our motherland at Ladakh’s Galwan cannot be put in words. The Nation salutes our immortal heroes who sacrificed their lives to keep Indian Territory safe and secure.Their bravery reflects India’s commitment towards her land.”
“I bow to the families, who have blessed the Indian Army with such great heroes. India will always remain indebted for their supreme sacrifice’, Mr Shah said in another tweet and also prayed for speedy recovery of the injured.
