Indian Army, China's PLA meet at Nathu La, Ladakh
New Delhi/Jammu, Aug 15 : The Indian Army and China's People Liberation Army (PLA) on Wednesday held two special meetings of border personnel at Nathu La in the Sikkim sector and Ladakh region in Jammu and Kashmir to boost mutual trust and promote peace.
Both the meetings happened on the Indian sides to commemorate the 72nd Independence Day of India. The PLA delegations, comprising several officers and soldiers, attended the celebration following an invitation.
In Sikkim, the Defence Ministry said: "The celebration took place in an atmosphere of warmth and friendship, with an aim of enhancing mutual trust and promoting border peace and tranquility."
The two forces had held a similar meeting to celebrate the 91st anniversary of the foundation of PLA on August 1.
"Such interactions between the two armies have resulted in enhancement of goodwill and mutual understanding between the two nations," said a statement from the Ministry.
Beside interactions between the armies, programmes portraying the cultural diversity of the two countries were presented by both sides on the occasion, said the statement.
Situated at 4,310 metres above sea level, Nathu La -- a mountain pass in the Himalayas in East Sikkim district -- connects the Indian state of Sikkim with Tibet.
Indian troops deployed in remote and high altitude areas of North Sikkim also celebrated Independence Day by hoisting the national flag at different forward posts with great zeal.
Another Indian Army delegation led by Brigadier V.K. Purohit and Colonel Anil Kumar Sharma met a Chinese delegation headed by Senior Colonel Wang Jun Xian and Lt Col Li Ming Ju at Chushul-Moldo and DBO-TWD meeting points in Eastern Ladakh, said the Army's Northern Command spokesperson.
"The ceremonial was marked by saluting the national flag of India by both the delegation members. Both the delegations interacted in a free, congenial and cordial environment. The two sides exchanged greetings and vote of thanks and reflected the mutual desire of maintaining and improving relations at functional level at the border," he said.
"The delegations parted amidst feeling of friendship and commitment towards enhancing the existing cordial relations and maintaining peace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC)," said the official.
He added that both sides also sought to build on the mutual feeling to uphold the treaties and agreements signed between the governments of the two sides to maintain peace and tranquility along the LAC.
The three back-to-back meetings between the two armies in the span of a fortnight follow an informal summit in Wuhan in China between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
India and China fought a war in 1962 and claim each other's territory. The two armies were also locked in a dragging military stand-off last year on the border.
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Congress keeps singing to Pakistan's tune, compromising nation's security: Modi
Barpeta/Hojai/ Dibrugarh (PTI): Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday said that while his government carried out 'Operation Sindoor', the Congress continued to "sing to the tune of" Pakistan.
Addressing back-to-back election rallies in Barpeta, Hojai and Dibrugarh in Assam, Modi also accused the Congress of taking a myopic view on development, while asserting that the BJP focuses on long-term growth.
"The party always took short-term measures so that they could indulge in corruption. But the BJP looks far ahead while taking decisions for all-around development of all sections of society," he said.
The PM alleged that during the 2016 surgical strikes or the 2025 'Operation Sindoor', the Congress has always sung to Pakistan's tune, giving importance to their agenda.
"This Pakistan connection always weighs heavily on the country, and we can never allow that," he said.
Modi also accused the Congress of neglecting the Army by refusing to implement the 'One Rank, One Pension' for the veterans for decades.
"But the BJP government ensured that justice was done to those who protect the nation by giving them this benefit," he said, adding that so far, Rs 1.24 lakh crore has been disbursed to the bank accounts of veterans.
Modi accused the Gandhi family of indulging in dynastic politics and corruption.
"The first family of Congress is the most corrupt in the country, indulging in scams of huge proportions and is currently out on bail. The Congress can do only two things -- tell lies and indulge in corruption," he alleged.
In an apparent swipe at Leader of the Opposition Rahul Gandhi's "mohabbat ki dukaan" pitch, Modi said the Congress represents "mithya ki dukaan" (shop of lies) and "apmaan" (insult).
"There is another family in Assam... and both are making false promises ahead of the polls," he said, in an apparent reference to Gandhi's deputy in Lok Sabha Gaurav Gogoi, who is also the president of the party's state unit.
The PM also accused the Gandhi family of occupying land in prime locations of Delhi.
"The Congress alleges that the BJP acquires land from people, but they don't talk about the prime lands in Delhi with them in the name of National Herald, Rajiv Gandhi Charitable Trust and others," he said.
Modi said the BJP acquired land for the state's development, which has benefited all sections of society.
"They are now talking about land as it (land) has shifted from beneath their feet," he claimed.
Referring to the Emergency Landing Facility (ELF) at Moran, the PM said that earlier, the road conditions were such that even vehicles had difficulty in plying, but now fighter jets can land on a highway in Assam.
Modi alleged that the Congress adopted a stepmotherly attitude towards the state and neglected Upper Assam and the Barak Valley.
"The Congress did nothing for the tea garden workers, but the BJP government gave them land rights for their homes," he claimed.
"During my last visit to Dibrugarh, I had interacted with women tea garden workers, but to insult me, they made fun of their dress and culture," he alleged.
The PM alleged Congress only helped infiltrators for vote bank politics, and allowed them to settle on the land belonging to 'sattras', temples, tribal communities, besides the Kaziranga National Park.
"It is the BJP that is freeing these lands from the encroachers and also giving land rights to the indigenous people of Assam," he said.
Asserting that people's aspirations are the BJP's priority, Modi said, "The Congress is in power in Himachal, Karnataka and Telangana; they made tall promises before the polls, but what have they done so far?"
Referring to the West Asia conflict, Modi said the government is working to shield citizens, especially the poor, middle class and farmers, from its impact.
"It has been the BJP's priority since the beginning to focus on minimising their sufferings, and this will continue," he said.
Modi said peace was re-established in Assam after a lot of sacrifices, and this has led to the state's development under the BJP rule.
"To continue development, it is necessary to keep the Congress out," he claimed.
Modi said the 33 per cent reservation for women in Parliament would be implemented from the 2029 Lok Sabha elections.
"A special session of Parliament has been convened on April 16 to discuss the issue with all parties and take this forward. But some people are trying to spread rumours even about this," he said.
"All states in the country will benefit from this. They have waited 40 years for this, and women in Assam should urge all parties to ensure the bill's passage," he said.
Listing the various works done by his government, Modi said the minimum support price for paddy has increased from Rs 1,300 per quintal in 2013 to Rs 2,370 per quintal at present.
"Farmers’ income is increasing, and the BJP government is transferring money directly to their bank accounts, bypassing middlemen," he said, noting that Assam's famed 'Joha' rice is now being exported to European countries.
Polling for the 126 assembly constituencies in Assam will be held on April 9, while counting of votes will take place on May 4.
