India / Why is PM silent?: Cong on reports of Chinese villages near Arunachal

New Delhi: The Congress party on Thursday slammed the BJP-led government at the Centre over the ongoing border dispute and security issues with China and questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence on China building new villages near near the Dokalam plateau by capturing about 100 square kilometers of land in the area through illegal incursions.

As per news agency PTI, Congress spokesperson Professor Gaurav Vallabh on Thursday targeted the BJP-led Central government by saying that "blatant and brazen compromise of national security" and India's territorial integrity has once again been exposed.

"Why are we tolerating this all-round aggression from China and doing absolutely nothing about it? We urge the prime minister not to hide behind smokescreens and answer to the people," Professor Gaurav Vallabh said at a press conference, PTI reported.

"The Modi government's unpardonable, blatant and brazen compromise of national security and India's territorial integrity stands exposed once again. The prime minister and the defence minister have undermined the astounding valour and insurmountable grit of our armed forces, who faced the Chinese incursions and aggressions with indomitable courage and sacrifice," Vallabh said.

Congress general secretary Randeep Surjewala tweeted satellite images and said, "100 Square KMs of 'land grab' and illegal incursion and setting four new villages by China in Bhutan, next to Doklam is a blow to India's national security. This happened between May-Nov 2021."

"Why is PM 'mum'? Who will defend National Security?" he asked.

The Congress Spokesperson said that the new satellite pictures of Chinese military construction show that China has settled villages in Bhutanese territory in the last one year. These villages have been built between May 2020 and November 2021. These new villages are located near the Dokalam plateau where India and China had a face-off in 2017.

Congress leader Gaurav Vallabh asked, "Why is the Modi government disrespecting and dishonouring the sacrifice of our brave soldiers? When will the Modi government respond to this verbal, geographic, military and strategic aggression of China?"