The Chinese Betrayal 2.0
For the past one week, the Opposition has been demanding that the Government come out with the truth about the developments in the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh and present the facts before the country. The Centre has been trying to portray that the situation in the Indo-Chinese border is normal by issuing statements and trying to conceal the fact that talks were held on June 6 between the armies of India and China to ease the escalating tensions. In fact, the Defence Ministry went a step further and stated that both the countries had taken a decision to withdraw their armed forces from the border in a phased manner. When the country has been spending anxious moments over the border situation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi should have taken the people into confidence and provided a clear picture about the developments. Instead, the Prime Minister and the Defence Minister have been issuing provocative statements about PoK but have kept the country in the dark about the developments around LAC in the Ladakh region. Now, the country has come face-to-face with the brutal truth about the actual situation in the border.
Making a mockery of the government’s statements that ‘border talks have been successful’ is the death of 20 Indian soldiers in clashes with the Chinese army. At the same time, government sources are claiming that about 45 Chinese soldiers have either died or injured but no official word is out about this. The death of 45 Chinese soldiers should not make us take the death of 20 Indian soldiers lightly. Perhaps, this is the second heinous attack on our soldiers in the Modi regime. Capturing one terrorist in Pulwama cost us 45 Indian Jawans, whereas 20 Indian soldiers have now died in clashes with the Chinese army. The prevailing situation in the border is a grim reminder of the Kargil war. If Pakistan was responsible for the casualties then, today Chinese aggression has led to the deaths of Indian soldiers.
The unprovoked aggression of China against India as well as its hatred against India is not new and has a long history with several dimensions. China has constantly provoked India by trying to claim its rights over Arunachal Pradesh. It has large tracts of land that belongs to India and has under its control the region around Manas Sarvoar that has an emotional connect with India. Also, China has repeatedly tested India’s patience by pushing its army into the Indian territory. At the same time, the restraint that India has shown towards China is remarkable. Though China has provoked India several times in the past, India has eased the situation by showing maturity and patience. However, it seems China is now in a hurry to make use of the opportunity that India has provided by taking several hasty decisions. Coming out of its stand of being non-aligned and showing its absolute loyalty to the United States has resulted in India becoming the enemy of those opposed to the US. At the same time, the US has not adopted the same attitude of being ‘a friend’ of India which India has repeatedly announced and projected it to be. The way the US responded to India’s refusal to export medicines for Corona reflects its attitude towards India. It appears to be merely ‘using’ India in the present globalized world. If India had not sold itself but tried to establish a relationship of being a dignified ally, India would not have had to face such an uncomfortable situation internationally. Today, India has neither a solid foreign policy nor seasoned leaders who can interact with leaders of other countries in a matured way.
The image of the country took a beating after India breached the LOC on the pretext of surgical strikes and the subsequent public statements issued by our leaders. Breaching LOC of another country and publicly lauding itself for doing so does not reflect political maturity. All governments perform such acts wily nily, but do not publicize their actions. But India tried to project the surgical strikes as an achievement and tried to regain lost ground after the Pulwama attacks. These strikes created tension among the neighboring countries.
In the midst of these developments, however, India tried to strengthen its relations with China with several Chinese leaders visiting India twice and India treating them with affection and dignity. Prime Minister Modi also visited China and his government handed over several important projects to Chinese companies. It took several decisions to facilitate business relations with China. In fact, the project of ‘Vallabhbhai Patel’ statue – a symbol of unity of India – was implemented by a Chinese company. Scoffing at the ‘Atma Nirbhar Bharath’ slogan of the Prime Minister, the Delhi-Meerut mega underpass project was given to a Chinese company. But China seemed to have tossed everything aside by adopting a belligerent stand towards India. This is the second installment in a series of Chinese betrayals of India that started with its betrayal of Nehru.
Before taking on China diplomatically, the Modi government should first take into confidence the people of the country. The government should go back on its decisions such as its policy on Kashmir, Citizenship Amendment Act , or National Registry of Citizens that don’t play any role in the development of the country but are detrimental to the country’s harmony. Prime Minister Modi should also stop his ‘one-man show’ ‘’ and work with the Opposition and address the problems facing the country. Bilateral talks and not war is the answer to the present problem. It is not sensible for India that has already suffered an economic blow due to the lockdown to find itself in a situation of going to war with a strong country such as China. Taking a few steps backwards now would help us take strong steps forward in the future.
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Alleging unauthorised sorting of postal ballot covers, TMC files complaint with EC
Kolkata (PTI): The TMC on Saturday said it has filed a complaint with the Election Commission, alleging unauthorised sorting of postal ballot covers at an EVM strongroom in Kolkata.
TMC workers, who have been camping outside the Khudiram Anushilan Kendra, alleged that eight trunks of postal ballots were brought in at 4 am and were taken to a room, which has no CCTV coverage.
"We have been demanding that every single millimetre of space where EVMs and postal ballots be under CCTV surveillance. But as these trunks were taken inside, it was clear that they were taken to a room not under CCTV cover. Why should this happen," a TMC member asked.
Voting machines from several assembly segments of northern and eastern Kolkata are stored at the strongroom at Khudiram Anushilan Kendra.
As TMC activists were demonstrating, BJP's Shyampukur candidate Purnima Chakraborty reached the spot with her supporters, escalating tensions.
Both sides started shouting slogans as police stood between them, attempting to bring the situation under control.
Chakraborty claimed that sensing defeat, TMC workers were creating chaos outside the strongroom.
Later, the TMC said it filed a complaint with the EC over the issue.
Similar scenes were witnessed outside the strongroom at the Barasat Government College in North 24 Parganas district, where TMC workers demonstrated, alleging that the CCTV was switched off for 17 minutes in the morning.
TMC's Ashoknagar candidate Narayan Goswami reached the spot, demanding that he be allowed inside the building.
An election official said the CCTV cameras were working fine, but the power cables of the monitors installed outside the centre snapped.
"The 17-minute footage will be shared with TMC or whichever party wants it," he said.
In Purba Bardhaman district, the BJP shared a purported video that showed a person scaling the walls of the University Institute of Technology, where EVMs had been stored.
The EC said the video was old and the person seen in it was engaged for the installation of CCTV cameras and ACs.
