Xi inspects combat readiness of troops stationed along India-China border in eastern Ladakh
Beijing, Jan 20: Chinese President Xi Jinping has held a video conversation with the soldiers stationed along the India-China border in eastern Ladakh and inspected their combat readiness, official media here reported on Friday.
Xi addressed the troops from the People's Liberation Army (PLA) headquarters here on the border defence situation in Khunjerab under the Xinjiang Military Command.
Xi, who is also general secretary of the ruling Communist Party of China and the commander-in-chief of the PLA, in his remarks to the troops, referred to how "in recent years, the area has been constantly changing" and how it had impacted the Army, according to the video shown in the official media.
During the call, he "inspected their combat readiness", the report said.
One of the soldiers replied that they were now carrying out "dynamic" and "24-hour" monitoring of the border.
Xi asked about their condition and whether they were able to "receive fresh vegetables" in the inhospitable terrain.
The official media reported Xi had asked the border troops "about their border patrol and management work" and "hailed the soldiers as models of border defence and encouraged them to persist in their efforts and make new contributions."
Eastern Ladakh is the region where a standoff erupted on May 5, 2020 between India and China following a violent clash in the Pangong lake area.
The two sides have held 17 rounds of high-level military talks on the eastern Ladakh border standoff but there was no significant forward movement in resolution of the remaining issues.
India has asserted that peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) are essential for overall development of bilateral relationship with China.
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Lok Sabha functions under rules; will continue to run with fairness: Birla
New Delhi (PTI): Lok Sabha Speaker Om Birla on Thursday said the House functions strictly under its rules and regulations and will continue to do so, irrespective of whether it is acceptable to any member, and asserted that he would conduct the proceedings with sincerity and fairness.
A day after a motion seeking his removal as Speaker was defeated in the House, Birla also said that the Chair does not belong to any one individual but is a symbol of the prestige of the House.
Birla said he was grateful to the members of the House for the faith reposed in him during debate and thanked all those who spoke in favour of him as well as against him.
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"The House has been running with rules and regulations and will continue to function in future, irrespective of whether it is acceptable to any member or not. I will continue to discharge my duty with all sincerity and impartiality," he said amidst the thumping of desks by the treasury bench members.
Thursday was the first time Birla came to the House to conduct the proceedings since the notice of no confidence was given during the first part of the Budget session, which came to an end on February 13. The second part of the session began on March 9.
The Speaker said during the debate in the last two days, some members said that the Leader of the Opposition is not given enough opportunities to speak, and he should be allowed to speak whenever he wishes and on any subject.
"Everyone has the right to speak in the House, but by following rules and regulations. No member, not even the prime minister or any minister, can speak without the permission of the Chair. No member of the House has the privilege to speak at any time and on any subject. He can speak only when the Chair allows," he said.
Birla said the MPs have the freedom of speech in the House, but they have to follow rules and regulations.
He also addressed allegations that the microphones of some members are switched off when they want to speak.
"I don't have a switch to turn the mic on or off. The mic is put on when a member is given permission to speak by the chair," he said.
Soon after his speech, Birla adjourned the House till 2 pm.
