My Opinion

Official sources have now confirmed that Chinese troops have withdrawn from Patrolling Point 14 of Galwan Valley in Ladakh. They have dismantled their tents and taken away their artillery. The disengagement process in Gogra-Hot Springs is expected to be complete within the next few days, as dismantling of Chinese structures continue.

The most interesting part is that the Chinese state media is now trying to project its army as the victim before the world. Chinese state-controlled media has alleged that it was India which created a war scenario in Ladakh and that India has ‘expansionist’ designs. The Chinese media is trying hard to point out that the structures shown in Galwan Valley in satellite images belong to Indian army. The official Chinese television CCTV has alleged there was large deployment of Indian troops near the LAC and that the Indian Prime Minister himself went to the border to address his troops.

The Chinese state media further alleged that it was India which banned 59 Chinese apps and imposed restrictions on trade with China. The Chinese have also alleged that India has joined hands with the US and is buying aircraft and weapons from Russia. Chinese media is also showing pictures of Rafale aircraft bought by India from France and MiG-29 fighters, BrahMos missiles and tanks bought from Russia, to project India as a warmonger and China as an innocent victim.

One needs to understand the psychology behind this move by Chinese state-controlled media. It is an open secret that the Chinese Communist Party has full control over media and every show is carefully designed and approved by top bosses.

In one show, the anchor asked six questions from expert guests, about what exactly happened in Galwan valley, who was responsible for the violent clashes, why border confrontations take place in June every year, and why India is buying weapons and aircraft from other world powers. The questions also made mention of National Security Adviser Ajit Doval’s talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, why India banned 59 Chinee apps and the financial losses that this step would entail.

There was also one question about Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s sudden visit to the Ladakh border and its consequences. The experts handpicked by Chinese state media dutifully replied to each of these questions defending their country’s policies.

The picture that emerges from this Chinese TV discussion is (1) China, for the first time, is concerned over India building infrastructure near the Line of Actual Control, (2) China is worried over India-US friendship at a time when China-US friendship is on the rocks, and India’s timely decision to buy Sukhoi and MiG-29 aircraft from Russia has also irked the Chinese, and finally (4) the Indian ban on 59 Chinese apps and restrictions on Chinese imports has hurt its industry. The icing on the cake was when Prime Minister Modi made a sudden visit to the border to boost the morale of his jawans.

The Chinese have their own interpretations about all these issues and their state media is trying to project that India is causing worries for China. The real meaning lies somewhere else. China withdrew its troops from border flashpoints because of Modi’s astute diplomacy, massive war preparations and India playing on the front foot. This was the reason behind China withdrawing its troops. The Chinese were afraid of worldwide embarrassment and that is why its state-controlled media is now playing the ‘innocent victim’ card to cover up for its army’s lapses.

China’s wily stunts will no more work because India has the answer to each such stunt. The Chinese leadership and its People’s Liberation Army must not harbour the illusion that now that troops have withdrawn from flashpoints, the Indian armed forces will relax and then the PLA will strike again. If the Chinese army does so, it should be ready to face a big, big surprise.

For the first time in the last 60 years, China has been forced to withdraw from flash points. This was because Prime Minister Modi was leading from the front. He went to the border to galvanize the troops.

As a leader of a nation of 130 crore people, Modi has the right to address his troops at the border at a critical time, and China should not crib. The Chinese state media is also correct when it says that PM Modi has given a free hand to his army to repel attacks. Yes, the officers of armed forces were directed that they should take the right decision on the spot, depending on the situation and context, and they should not wait for green signals from Delhi. The elected democratic government in India put its full might behind the armed forces, and there is nothing wrong in it when such a critical situation arises.

The Chinese media is also cribbing that its country is facing all sorts of allegations, but the real fact is that it was India which was building roads, bridges , air strips and helipads near the LAC. The Chinese media is correct on this score, but it did not reveal the whole truth. Our army had no intention of occupying No Man’s Land area at the LAC, which the Chinese did by committing unlawful transgressions. Now that the Chinese army has witnessed India’s military build-up, it opted for the retreat option, and in the bargain, it is now making the counter-charge that India is the aggressor.

Despite the beginning of disengagement process, the Indian armed forces are on their toes, keeping a hawk’s eye on Chinese troop movement. During the daytime, army jawans and officers keep watch on the Chinese side, while at night, our MiG-29 fighter jets, Apache helicopters and Chinook heavy lift helicopters are carrying out surveillance in darkness.

There is a proverb in Hindi: “Doodh ka jalaa, chaachh phoonk phoonk kar peeta hai” (once bitten, twice shy). Not even twice, several times. In July 1962, Chinese troops withdrew from Galwan valley. India trusted the Chinese, but they stabbed India in the back, by launching a full-scale war in October the same year. The times have now changed. India has changed. India is ready to repay China back with its own coin.

Let me reveal what the Chinese army is doing now despite the disengagement process. It has installed an acquisition radar at Pangong lake and has hired some local people for the purpose of reconnaissance, to keep an eye on our troop movements. In addition, China has conducted an exercise with its 73 Aviation Brigade.

It is time China must understand that the more mischief it does, the swifter the response it should expect from India. Modi has shown the world how to keep the Chinese dragon under the leash. Even the US is now toeing India’s line. US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo has said that his country was “looking at banning Chinese” social media apps, including TikTok. “People should only download the apps if you want your private information in the hands of Chinese Communist Party…we are taking this very seriously”, Pompeo added.

The Chinese social media app companies have incurred huge losses because of India’s ban on 59 Chinese apps. If the US takes a similar step, imagine the financial loss that the Chinese companies may have to incur.

So, it’s now in the reverse direction. The US is taking the cue from India to teach the Chinese a lesson. The whole world has appreciated Narendra Modi’s diplomatic and strategic initiatives. It’s time that the Chinese learn the right lesson and desist from adventurist and expansionist designs.

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भारत ने सोमवार को एक बड़ी सफलता हासिल की जब गलवान घाटी, पैंगोंग झील और गोगरा हॉट स्प्रिंग में 2 महीने तक चले लंबे गतिरोध के बाद लाइन ऑफ एक्चुअल कंट्रोल पर तनाव वाली जगहों से भारत और चीन के सैनिक अब पीछे हटना शुरू हुए हैं।

चीनी सैनिकों ने अपने टेंट हटा लिए हैं और पैंगोंग झील के फिंगर 5 की तरफ जाते हुए देखे गए हैं। जबकि गलवान घाटी के पेट्रोलिंग प्वाइंट 14 जहां 15 जून को खूनी हिंसक झड़प हुई थी और भारत के सेना अधिकारी सहित 20 जवान शहीद हुए थे तथा भारी संख्या में चीनी सैनिक भी मरे थे, में ‘बफर जोन’ तैयार किया गया है। चीनी सैनिक लगभग 2 किलोमीटर पीछे हट गए हैं। गोगरा हॉट स्प्रिंग में तनाव वाली जगह पेट्रोलिंग प्वाइंट 15 और 17ए में भी इसी तरह सैनिक पीछे हटे हैं।

तस्वीर अब पूरी तरह साफ है। चीनी सैनिकों के जमावड़े से निपटने के लिए प्रधानमंत्री नरेन्द्र मोदी के दृढ़ संकल्प से यह कामयाबी हासिल हुई है। चीन ने दो महीने पहले आक्रामक मुद्रा अपना ली थी, पर अब उसके तेवर शांत हो गए हैं । अब चीनी सैनिक अपने टेंट और बख्तरबंद गाड़ियों के साथ पीछे हटना शुरू हो गए हैं। संक्षेप में कहें तो चीन ने अतिक्रमण के जरिए जिस विवाद को पैदा किया था उसपर भारत ने पूर्ण विराम लगा दिया है।

भारत ने चीन को साथ साफ बता दिया था कि भारत पड़ोसियों के साथ शान्ति चाहता है, सदभाव चाहता है, लेकिन देश की संप्रभुता की कीमत पर नहीं, अखंडता की कीमत पर नहीं । अगर चीन सरहद पर गड़बड़ी करेगा, तो भारत हर तरह से तैयार है। इस सख्त और साफ मैसेज के बाद चीन को कदम पीछे खींचने पड़े । जो चीन भारत को साठ साल से आंख दिखा रहा था, .जो चीन साठ साल से धीरे धीरे हमारी जमीन पर कब्जा कर रहा था, .साठ साल में चीन को कभी सख्त जबाव नहीं मिला था, इसलिए चीन की हिम्मत बढ़ी थी, लेकिन साठ साल में पहली बार चीन को भारत ने आंख दिखाई, तो ड्रैगन चुपचाप अपने रास्ते वापस हो लिया । .चीन को अब समझ आ गया है कि भारत बदल गया है, .भारत का मिजाज बदल गया है, भारत के तेवर बदल गए हैं., भारत का कॉन्फिडेंस लेवल बदल गया है । अब पुराना भारत नहीं रहा कि चीनी सैनिक आएंगे, हमारी जमीन पर कब्जा करेंगे और भारत चुपचाप देखता रहेगा.।
प्रधानमंत्री नरेन्द्र मोदी ने दुनिया को दिखा दिया कि कूटनीति के साथ साथ रणनीतिक कौशल भी जरूरी होता है । मोदी ने सिर्फ कूटनीति से काम नहीं लिया, .डिप्लोमेसी के साथ साथ इकोनॉमिक और सैन्य शक्ति का भी सहारा लिया.। दुनिया ने देखा कि भारत का प्रधानमंत्री , 130 करोड़ लोगों का मुखिया, अपने सैनिकों के साथ खुद सरहद पर खड़ा है । इसके बाद चीन को भी समझ आ गया था कि अब कोई रास्ता नहीं, भारत पर प्रैशर बनाने का कोई फायदा नहीं । .मोदी ने उसी दिन कहा था कि वीर भोग्या वसुन्धरा, .अब विस्तारवाद का जमाना गया, अब विकासवाद का वक्त है और ये बात विस्तारवादी ताकतों को समझनी होगी ।
मोदी ने चीन का नाम नहीं लिया था कि लेकिन संदेश साफ था, चीन भी भारत की ताकत को .और भारत की भावना को समझ गया ।.इसके बाद बाकी रही सही बात हमारे नेशनल सिक्युरिटी एडवाइजर अजीत डोभल ने पूरी कर दी । डोभल ने चीन के विदेश मंत्री से बात की, दो घंटे तक बात हुई और आखिरकार चीन को पीछे हटना पड़ा ।

अंत में दोनो पक्ष तनाव वाली जगहों से सेना को पीछे हटाने और तनाव के दौरान तैयार किए गए ढांचों को हटाने पर सहमत हुए। चीनी सैनिकों की वापसी को लेकर भारत बहुत सतर्क है और ड्रोन, सैटेलाइट तस्वीरें तथा फिजिकल वैरिफिकेशन के जरिए पैनी नजर बनाए हुए है।

टकराव वाली जगहों पर सैन्य उपस्थिति खत्म करके ‘बफर जोन’ बनाना सैनिकों के पीछे हटने की योजना का पहला चरण होगा। इसके बाद 3-4 हफ्ते स्थिरता रखी जाएगी और दोनो पक्ष प्रक्रिया पर निगरानी रखेंगे और अगर कोई नया विवाद पैदा होता है तो उसका समाधान करेंगे। इसके बाद LAC के दोनो तरफ सेना के भारी जमावड़े को कम करने के लिए कूटनीतिक और सैनिक स्तर पर बात की जाएगी। सैनिकों की वापसी की पूरी योजना को अंतिम रूप देने के लिए इस साल सितंबर या अक्तूबर तक का समय लग सकता है।

नरेन्द्र मोदी ने चीन को ये साफ बता दिया कि मैप हो या एप हो, अगर अपनी सीमा पार करोगे तो करारा जबाव मिलेगा । नरेन्द्र मोदी ने ये भी बता दिया कि ये नया भारत है, दुश्मन को वहां चोट करता हैं जहां उसको दर्द सबसे ज्यादा होता है । पहले तो प्रधानमंत्री के लेह के दौरे ने भारत का इरादा बिल्कुल साफ कर दिया कि अब वो जमाना चला गया कि जब भारत डर के बैठ जाता था, चीन ने भी देख लिया कि मोदी न तो डोकलाम में झुके, न वन बैल्ट वन रोड पर समझौता किया, दूसरी तरफ चीन पर आर्थिक दवाब बनाया, आत्मनिर्भर भारत का आह्वान देकर चीन के सामान के बॉयकॉट का माहौल बनाकर ऐसी हालत कर दी कि चीनी कंपनियां शी जिंगपिंग की सरकार के सामने जाकर सॉल्यूशन निकालने की मांग करने लगी । फिर मोदी ने चीन के 59 एप्स पर बैन लगा कर चीन पर टैक्नोलॉजिकल प्रैशर बनाया। अंदाजा ये हैं इन एप्स को बंद करने से चीनी कपंनियों को 50 अरब डॉलर का नुकसान हुआ है ।

नरेन्द्र मोदी की कूटनीति पर, उनकी विदेश नीति पर कांग्रेस पिछले छह साल से सवाल उठा रही है लेकिन आज ये साबित हो गया कि अमेरिका, रूस, फ्रांस, जर्मनी, ब्रिटेन, जापान, .इस्राइल. जैसे तमाम देशों का दौरा करके, दुनिया के तमाम देशों के राष्ट्राध्यक्षों के साथ व्यक्तिगत कैमेस्ट्री डेवलप करके मोदी ने जो घेरा बनाया, चीन उसी घेरे में फंसा हैं । चीन को पहली बार ये समझ आया है कि दुनिया में पाकिस्तान और नॉर्थ कोरिया को छोड़कर कोई मुल्क उसके साथ नहीं हैं, दुनिया की बड़ी बड़ी ताकतें चीन के खिलाफ हैं, 23 पड़ोसी देशों के साथ चीन का विवाद चल रहा है और दूसरी तरफ पूरी दुनिया अब भारत के पक्ष में खड़ी है । इससे भी बड़ी बात ये है कि सिर्फ दुनिया के सपोर्ट से चीन रास्ते पर नहीं आया, भारत की बढ़ती ताकत और तेजी से विकसित होते इन्फ्रास्ट्रक्चर ने भी चीन को जमीन पर लाने में मदद की ।

चीन की कोशिश ये थी कि गलवान के इलाके में भारत निर्माण का काम बंद करे , सड़क बनाना बंद करे, पुल बनाना बंद करे .लेकिन भारत दवाब में नही आया, काम बंद नहीं हुआ । .चीन की परेशानी इसलिए भी है. क्योंकि सरहद के इलाकों में भारत ने जबरदस्त इन्फ्रास्ट्रक्चर डेवलप किया है, सड़क और पुल बनाने के अलावा हवाई पट्टियां भी बनाई गई हैं । अब हमारी सेना के बड़े बड़े विमान भी लेह और लद्दाख में आराम से उतर सकते हैं, .कनैक्टिविटी बढ़ गई है, ये बड़ी बात है.। इसका असर हुआ है।
आखिर में एक और बात। प्रधानमंत्री चीन को इसलिए रोक पाए कि पूरा देश उनके पीछे खड़ा था । .ये जीत इसलिए हासिल हुई कि हमारी तीनों सेनाओं ने भरोसा दिलाया था कि चीन की चुनौती का सामना करने में सक्षम हैं । ऐसे संकट के मौके पर ही नेतृत्व के असली साहस की परख होती है।

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In a major breakthrough, Indian and Chinese troops began a step-wise disengagement from tension points at Line of Actual Control in eastern Ladakh after a two month-long stand-off in Galwan valley, Pangong lake and Gogra-Hot Springs.

The Chinese troops removed tents and were seen moving back towards Finger 5 at Pangong Lake, while in Galwan Valley, a ‘buffer zone’ has been created at Patrolling Point 14, the site of bloody clashes on June 15, in which 20 Indian jawans and officers were martyred and a large number of Chinese soldiers were killed. The Chinese troops have moved back nearly two kilometres. In Gogra-Hot Springs area, similar disengagement is going on at friction points near Patrolling Points 15 and 17A.

The picture is now clear. Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s steel resolve to face the Chinese military build-up with a matching response from Indian armed forces has paid dividends. China, which had adopted a belligerent posturing for the last two months, has now calmed down, and its troops have begun withdrawing with their tents and armoured vehicles. To put it briefly, it was India which brought a full stop to the dispute that China had created by committing transgressions.

Never in the last six decades had the Chinese army got such a resolute response from the India. Prime Minister Modi’s tough message has gone down effectively, that India wants peace, but if its territorial integrity and sovereignty is attacked, it will strike back. There can be no compromise on this issue.

The Prime Minister has shown to the world how India can use its strategic, diplomatic and economic firepower to force the enemy to accept peace. The world has noticed how the leader of 1.3 billion Indians went to the border and stood before his jawans to deliver a tough message to China by giving a warning against any ‘expansionist’ designs.

It was in this context that the grounds of disengagement were set after a two-hour-long “frank and in-depth interaction”, marked by sharp exchanges, between National Security Adviser Ajit Doval and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday.

The two sides finally agreed over reduction of military presence at the trouble spots, pulling back of troops and dismantling of structures that were raised during the stand-off. India is practising extreme caution keeping a hawk’s eye over Chinese troop withdrawals with the help of drones and satellite pictures, and through physical verifications.

The setting up of “buffer zones” with no military presence at all friction points will mark the completion of Phase-1 of disengagement plan. This will be followed by a stabilization period of 3 to 4 weeks during which both sides will monitor the process and resolve if any fresh dispute arises. Further diplomatic and military level talks will be held for eventual de-induction of military build-up by both sides along the LAC in Ladakh. The final de-induction may take place by September or October this year.

Prime Minister Modi has effectively sent a stern message to China: whether it’s a map or app, if you cross the line, you will get a strong response, because this is New India, and the Indian government knows to strike where it hurts the most. After Modi’s sudden visit to Ladakh, the Chinese side sat up and took notice of how India has changed, whether it is Doklam or the Galwan valley.

Secondly, by giving the “self-reliance” (atmanirbhar) call, Modi put tremendous economic pressure on China, whose companies were raking in profits through 59 social media apps, and by making investments in Indian start-ups. A nationwide call was given to boycott Chinese products, and the harried Chinese companies had to tell their government to halt tension and start the peace dialogue. The Chinese companies were staring at a $ 50 billion loss because of the steps taken by the Indian government. All their plans for expansion and investment in India had dashed to the ground through a single “digital strike”.

Credit must also go to the personal chemistry developed with world leaders by Prime Minister Modi during his summits with the US, Russia, France, Germany, Britain, Japan and Israel. These countries came out in full support of India during the stand-off against China. It was this web of diplomatic finesse that caught the Chinese inside it. China also came to realize that it had only ‘failed’ countries like Pakistan and North Korea to stand by it during this stand-off. The major world powers had openly sided with India, and were speaking out openly against China.

Moreover, China is in a running feud with at least 23 neighbouring countries in East and South East Asia. The Chinese decided to bend not only because of worldwide support for India, but because of the rising economic and military power of India, which is going ahead fast in developing infrastructure at the Chinese border.

The main Chinese grouse was over India carrying out construction activity near the Galwan valley. China wanted India to stop construction of roads and bridges, but India refused to budge. India has not only built roads and bridges, but also airstrips near the LAC, like the one at Daulat Beg Oldie, where huge Indian transport aircraft can make easy landing. With easy connectivity by India with Ladakh and other border areas, the Chinese find that the overall Indian outlook has now changed. India is no more timid and cannot be browbeaten.

Lastly, Prime Minister Modi succeeded in making the Chinese troops go back because the entire nation stood rock solid behind his leadership. It is in times of such crises that the true mettle of leadership is tested.

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Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday conveyed an emphatic message to China during his surprise visit to a forward location in eastern Ladakh.

Addressing Indian army, Indian Air Force, Border Security Force and Indo-Tibetan Border Police jawans at Nimu, Modi, without naming China, said “the age of expansionism is over. This is the age of development. In the centuries gone by, it was expansionism which hurt humanity the most and sought to destroy it.

“Those who are driven by expansionism have always posed a danger to the world. History bears testimony that such forces have either been destroyed or were forced to turn back. It is due to this experience that the world is today speaking out against expansionist forces.”

The Prime Minister praised the jawans for their indomitable courage while fighting Chinese troops with bare hands in Galwan Valley last month. Modi said, “The valour that you and your fellow jawans recently showed has sent a powerful message across the world about India’s strength. I pay my tributes to the brave jawans who attained martyrdom. The entire nation has expressed its gratitude to our brave martyrs.”

Modi said,, “The enemies of India have seen the fire and fury of its jawans….Your bravery encourages me to say that India, which has never bowed before anyone, will never succumb in future and will become self-reliant (atmanirbhar)”. The jawans chanted slogans like ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’, ‘Vande Mataram’ after the Prime Minister’s speech.

Later, Modi placed wreaths at the memorial for martyrs and met injured army jawans in hospital. Modi’s visit to address the jawans at a height of 11,000 feet has given a tremendous boost to the morale of our armed forces, presently deployed at the Line of Actual Control to counter a massive Chinese military buildup.

“The entire Ladakh region is the crown of India. It is a symbol of prestige and honour for 130 crore Indians. Our religious scriptures say, Veer Bhogya Vasundhara (this land belongs to the brave who are always willing to make sacrifices)”, Modi said, while sending a tough message to the Chinese. Late at night, the Chinese foreign ministry described the Prime Minister’s charge of China being “expansionist” as “groundless”.

Modi has done what no leader in the world has done so far. He visited the forward location of Indian army at a time when tension and military build-up is at its zenith, with Indian Air Force jets and bombers making sorties in the sky and tanks, artillery guns and thousands of commandos and jawans deployed at the LAC. He met the jawans, saluted their sense of valour, and delivered a clear warning to China. This was indeed a big morale booster for our jawans.

Modi’s message to China and the world was clear: India has changed a lot and its army stands solidly as a rock to give a crushing blow to the enemies. He used religious symbols as allegory when he said, while India worships the flute-playing Lord Krishna, it also views Lord Krishna as one who wields the famous Sudarshan Chakra to slay enemies. This was intended to convey a tough message to China: India wants peace, but is ready to give a befitting reply if attacked. “Valour is a pre-condition of peace, and for peace, might is necessary”, he added.

As an astute statesman, Modi chose the right time, place and context for delivering his message, both to the jawans and the enemy. His message was well poised and balanced. He chose his words very carefully. The Prime Minister spoke from the depth of his heart, and recited lines from Hindi poet Ramdhari Singh Dinkar, in praise of the brave martyrs. He also used the ‘mother’ allegory, saying, he always kept two mothers in mind when taking important decisions on national security, one, Bharat Mata, and two, the mothers of all jawans fighting on the border.
This was not a visit by a political leader, nor by a Prime Minister. It was Narendra Modi, who personally wanted to convey the message of 130 crore Indians to army jawans to say that the entire nation stands united behind them. When Modi with folded hands bowed his head before the troops, ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ chants by army jawans rented the air.
By visiting a forward location near the border with his Chief of Defence Staff and Army Chief, Modi wanted to convey a tough message to China: Behave properly and we shall live in peace, but if you try to transgress the limits, we will give a befitting response.
Modi’s visit to Ladakh has made every Indian raise his head with pride. The people of India know that the nation is in the safe hands of a strong and capable leader. China has now realized that the breathing of fire by its dragon will not cow down the Indian lion.

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On Wednesday, when pictures of a three-year-old boy weeping over his grandfather Bashir Ahmed Khan’s bullet-riddled body in Sopore, Kashmir, flashed across the world, the Pakistani fake propaganda machine went into a tizzy. This was a picture that showed the terrorists in a poor light, while the video of our security force jawan staking his life to rescue the child from terrorists’ firing showed how our brave men are trying to save lives of innocent people while fighting battles with terrorists.

The three-year-old child is now safe with his parents in Srinagar, but the Pakistani fake propaganda machine has spun a web of lies. It alleged that CRPF jawans dragged Bashir Ahmed Khan out of his car, which was caught in the crossfire, and shot him dead. The Pakistani propaganda machine made no mention of how a security personnel ran in the midst of firing, scooped up the child and took him to safety. No mention, nothing.

Naturally, the Pakistani propaganda about CRPF jawans killing the grandpa and minutes later, the video of a policeman rushing in to rescue the child, can put a James Hadley Chase suspense to shame. The mastermind behind this fake propaganda game seems to be China. How?

On June 29, four fighters of Balochistan Liberation Army, an outfit fighting for independence of Balochistan since several decades, attacked Karachi Stock Exchange and in the firefight that ensued, eight persons, including the four Baloch fighters, were killed.

The Prime Minister of Pakistan, Imran Khan, blamed the attack on India. He told the National Assembly, “Our security forces fought and thwarted a huge tragedy which was planned by our neighbouring country India.” He did not give a single piece of evidence against India, because he did not have any.

The Pakistani foreign ministry then took the matter to the floor of United Nations Security Council, by prodding its ally, China, which is a permanent member. The draft statement was stalled for nearly 24 hours by the US and Germany. The German representative said, he wanted to consult his government in Berlin, and got extension of time, and then the US took more time to study the statement. The final statement was perfunctory, as such statements are issued after every big terror attack.

“The members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the heinous and cowardly terrorist attack that took place in Karachi, Pakistan, on 29 June 2020, which resulted in several people killed,” it said in a statement, more than 24 hours after the first draft was circulated by Pakistan’s ally China on Tuesday.

Clearly, China is using Pakistan as a vassal state to help in its game plan against India. The Pakistani fake propaganda machine, backed by its army, is now in full gear with help from China.

The sad part is that there are people in India who blindly toe the fake Pakistani propaganda line which said CRPF jawans dragged out the child’s grandfather from his car and shot him dead. These individuals do not trust the versions of Kashmir Police IGP and SHO. Most of these people project themselves as opponents of Narendra Modi, but they should not forget the national interest while blindly opposing Modi. For such people, I can only say this much, Forgive them God, for they know not what they are doing.

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Lashkar-e-Taiba terrorists hiding inside a mosque in Model Town, Sopore on Wednesday morning attacked a CRPF patrolling party killing a head constable Deep Chand Verma. During the encounter that followed, a 65-year-old man Bashir Ahmed Khan with his three-year-old grandson drove his car in the line of fire.

In order to save his grandson, Bashir Ahmed Khan, a resident of Mustafabad, Srinagar, left the child inside the car and tried to flee, but was caught in the cross firing. He died on the spot. The child came out of the car and sat on his grandpa’s blood-stained body, crying, even as terrorists continued firing bullets indiscriminately. Pictures of the child crying over the body lying on the street caused nationwide outrage over this barbaric act by terrorists.

CRPF jawans positioned bulletproof cars around the child, and one of the policemen ran into the street and rescued the child. When the weeping child was taken away in a jeep, he was heard saying, “Mujhe Mummy Ke Paas Pahuncha Do. Ghar Jaana hai” (Take me to my mother, I want to go home).

These words and pictures of a weeping, innocent child will continue to haunt the minds of millions of Indians for years to come. The grandfather, who was hit by terrorists’ bullets, lay on the ground crying for help, and the child stood helpless. The man died soon after, and the weeping child, in order to save his grandpa, sat on his chest. Even then, the terrorists continued to rain bullets.

The child did not know what was happening and why was his grandpa was bleeding. CRPF jawans waiting at the other end knew that the child might soon became the target of terrorists. Unaware about the impending danger, the toddler went up to a CRPF jawan hiding. He signalled the child to stop, even as bullets continue to rain.

The CRPF patrol party created a secure cordon around the child, brought bulletproof cars to shield the toddler, and one of the J&K policemen ran into the crossfiring, carried the child into his arms and ran back to safety. Inside the police jeep, the weeping toddler was given chocolates and biscuits by the jawans. The child was later handed over to his relieved parents.

This is not the first time that terrorists have tried to kill a child. This is the second one in less than a week of the grenade attack by terrorists in Anantnag in which a four-year-old boy was killed along with a CRPF jawan.

The inspector general of Kashmir Police Vijay Kumar said, two LeT terrorists, one of them a Pakistani named Usman Bhai and the other a local youth named Adil, fired 30 bullets from inside the Sopore mosque before fleeing. Three CRPF jawans, Rajesh Bhoye, Deepak Patil and Nilesh Chawde, were injured and are being treated in 92 Base hospital.

The IGP said, the CRPF jawans could have easily killed the two terrorists who fled, but their first priority was to rescue the child, and the terrorists took advantage of this.

There has been four terror attacks in the valley in the last 48 hours, and in all the four attacks, the terrorists were eliminated, Operation All Out against terrorists is on in the Kashmir valley. The mission of security forces is clear: each terrorist shall be eliminated, come what may.

Terrorists are fast losing support of the common people in Kashmir valley. The terror groups are under pressure from their Pakistani masters to carry out more attacks to divert India’s attention from its military standoff against China on the Line of Actual Control. China has already contacted Al Badr terror group to carry out more attacks on Indian security forces, and its lackey Pakistan has dispatched 20,000 troops to Gilgit-Baltistan adjoining Ladakh, to help the Chinese army. Even if China and Pakistan decide to open a two-front battle against India, our armed forces are ready to give them a befitting reply.

Our security forces are doing a great job in the Valley. On one hand, they are trying their best to save civilians from terror attacks, and on the other hand, they are giving terrorists a befitting reply.

The world must sit up and take notice of the innocent child who sat over his dead grandpa’s body weeping, unaware about the bullets being rained by terrorists. The world must know that our security forces have a humane outlook: they refrain from attacking religious places of worship, where terrorists hide, and on the other hand they ensure that innocents must not die in the crossfire.

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In his address to the nation on Tuesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, he was worried over rising negligence by people since the day Unlock-1 phase was introduced. This has been borne out by figures. In just one month (June) alone, India recorded 4 lakh new COVID-19 cases and nearly 12,000 deaths, whereas in May, the number of new cases was just over 1.5 lakh and there were 4,267 deaths.
The pandemic has taken a firm grip over our metros and big states and is showing no signs of abating. The daily average addition of new cases has crossed 18,000, and the total number of Corona cases in India, which is presently at 5.67 lakhs, is sure to cross the six lakh mark in a few days. Surely, a dismal picture. However, the figures also show that 3.35 lakh people have recovered so far and the death toll is at 16,893.
It was in this context that the Prime Minister said that many people have started becoming negligent towards precautions for COVID-19. He appealed to citizens not to be careless, follow the mantra of ‘do gaz ki doori’ (social distancing), always wear masks, or gamcha or face cover, and wash hands for 20 seconds.
Modi said, the law for use of masks and norms of social distancing must apply equally to a gram pradhan or the prime minister. He cautioned that during the present rainy monsoon season, cases of common cold, cough and flu increase and this could bring about a further spike in the number of COVID cases.
Modi announced extension of free ration to 80 crore poor people till November this year. Under the Pradhan Mantri Gareeb Kalyan Anna Yojana, five kg of foodgrains and one kg of pulses will be given free to beneficiaries for another five months. This will cost around Rs 90,000 crore taking the overall cost to Rs 1.5 lakh crore.
“Today, if the government is able to provide free ration to the needy and poor, the credit for it goes to two categories. One, hard working farmers of our country, and Two, honest taxpayers of our country”, Modi said.
Modi’s announcement is, no doubt, a welcome step for millions of poor Indians. He has also promised to introduce ‘One Nation, One Ration Card’ which will benefit millions of migrant workers.
Feeding 80 crore poor Indians free for eight months is not an easy task. Just add up the populations of three countries like the USA, and you will reach the figure of 80 crore. Modi government has been and will be feeding these 80 crore people for eight months.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi surely deserves accolades for this. He understands the problems of poor people and migrant workers, who move to other states in search of job. Most of the political parties have welcomed Modi’s announcement, but it is also time for the common citizens to be careful so that pandemic is brought under control.
There has been a steep rise in the number of new COVID cases during the Unlock period and the tendency to be negligent must be curtailed. If people fail to take precautions, the pandemic is sure to spread rapidly and engulf the whole country.

My appeal to all: Do not be scared, but the danger is not over. Step out of your homes only when it is required. Practise utmost precautions, like wearing of masks, maintain distance, wear gloves, if possible, and wash your hand with soap several times a day when you return from outside. Be very, very careful, because the Chinese virus is lurking everywhere.

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The government on Monday night decided to ban the operation of 59 apps owned or backed by the Chinese, including the popular video app TikTok, UC Browser, WeChat, Shareit and CamScanner. The government said, these apps were “engaging in activities which are prejudicial to sovereignty and integrity of India, defence of India, security of state and public order.”
Describing these as “malicious apps”, the government said, there were being used in mobile and non-mobile internet-enabled devices, and there were “raging concerns” about the “data security and privacy of 130 crore Indians”.
There were “several complaints about misuse of some apps on Android and iOS platforms for stealing and surreptitiously transmitting users’ data in an illegal manner to servers located outside India”, a press statement said. The government has asked Google’s Android play store and Apple iOS app store to stop the download of these Chinese apps and block the usage of those already installed. The government has warned that action will be taken against companies that do not comply with its order within the given timelines.
Law, Justice and Information Technology Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad on Monday tweeted: ‘For safety, security, defence, sovereignty and integrity of India, the government has banned 59 mobile apps. Jai Hind.”
This is a timely and brave step taken by Prime Minister Narendra Modi amidst growing tensions over military build-up by China near the Line of Actual Control. These Chinese apps had captivated millions of Indians and were making huge fortunes. For example, TikTok, a popular short video sharing Chinese app, earned about Rs 25 crore in revenue during October-December 2019 quarter in India, where 611 million Indians have so far downloaded this app. India alone accounts for over 30 per cent of TikTok’s worldwide 2 billion downloads. TikTok was targeting Rs 100 crore revenue during July-September quarter this year in India.
There are 800 million internet users in India who are enjoying the benefit of low internet costs and nearly half of them are below 25 years of age. The Chinese apps were catering to their hunger for content on mobile devices. The ban on Chinese apps is the first big step taken by the government, as a retaliatory measure, to hit Chinese business interests in India. This comes at a time when Chinese army continues to carry out massive build-up in eastern Ladakh, and the Indian armed forces are busy in mirror deployment.
There are intelligence reports that the Chinese army is planning to carry out another treachery near the LAC, and its air force has activated two or three air bases close to Ladakh in Aksai Chin. More than 50 Chinese fighter jets have been deployed and heliports have been built for landing and take-off of helicopters.
Clearly, China is trying to hard to test India’s patience and our armed forces too are ready to retaliate swiftly. India’s message to China is clear, as enunciated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi: We want peace, but if any country dares to challenge our sovereignty and territorial integrity, we will give a swift reply.

The Rajiv Gandhi Foundation, set up in 1991 after the death of the former Prime Minister, is headed by interim Congress President Sonia Gandhi. It has on its board of trustees, Rahul Gandhi, former PM Dr Manmohan Singh, Priyanka Gandhi Vadra, P. Chidambaram and several other Congress leaders and family loyalists. The purpose of this Foundation was to work on issues like literacy, health, disability, upliftment of underprivileged and natural resource management.

This Foundation has now hit the news headlines for all the wrong reasons. BJP President Jagat Prakash Nadda on Friday alleged that the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund, headed by then PM Dr Manmohan Singh donated money in 2005 to this Foundation.

Nadda tweeted to say: “PMNRF, meant to help people in distress, was donating money to Rajiv Gandhi Foundation in UPA years. Who sat on the PMNRF board? Smt. Sonia Gandhi. Who chairs RGF? Smt. Sonia Gandhi. Totally reprehensible, disregarding ethics, processes and not bothering about transparency,”

The BJP President further alleged: “People of India donated their hard-earned money to PMNRF to help their fellow citizens in need. To divert this public money into a family run foundation is not only a brazen fraud but also a big betrayal of the people of India. ..One family’s hunger for wealth has cost the nation immensely. If only they have devoted their energies towards more constructive agenda. The Congress’ Imperial Dynasty needs to apologise to the unchecked loot for self-gains!”

Late in the evening, the Congress Party spokesman in a statement replied: “Pursuant to the unprecedented tsunami in the last week of 2004, RGF received a modest amount of Rs 20 lakhs from the Prime Minister’s National Relief Fund in the financial year 2005, which was duly utilized to undertake relief activities in Andaman & Nicobar Islands.”

On media reports about the Rajiv Gandhi Foundation accepting donations from the Embassy of China and the Chinese government, the Congress party replied: “…a 2005 grant of Rs. 1.45 crores (was) received from Embassy of China to Rajiv Gandhi Foundation for the purpose (1) Disabled Persons Welfare Program and (2) research on Sino-India relationships”.

The Congress Party alleged that the Prime Minister and BJP President “ have unleashed a diabolical disinformation, distraction and diversion from the real issue of Chinese incursion..”

The Congress party statement conceals more than it reveals. According to some estimates, the donation from the Chinese government and Embassy of China to Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and Rajiv Gandhi Institute for Contemporary Studies (a think tank under RGF) was to the tune of $2 million between 2004 and 2006 and $9 million between 2006 and 2013.

And now, look how the Congress was manipulating public opinion in favour of a Free Trade Agreement with China way back in 2009 in lieu of these donations.

According to a news agency IANS report, in April 2009, an RGICS Fellow Mohammad Saqib carried out a feasibility study, ”India-China: Free Trade Agreement (FTA)”, in association with Purnachandra Rao.
The main objective of the study was “to gain a better understanding of an FTA between India and China”, analyse various trade issues and identify who would stand to gain and lose from such an agreement. The report concluded that China would be the greater beneficiary in all trade dimensions because of the efficiency of its economy.
The study concluded that “… both governments should decide to enter into FTA negotiations. The proposed FTA between India and China will be feasible, desirable and mutually beneficial. An FTA between India and China should also be comprehensive, with a free flow of goods, services, investments and capital,” said the study.
Again in June, 2010, another study was done by the RGICS. This study also proposed that an FTA between India and China would help bilateral economic relations, and that the free flow of goods, services, investments and capital would in fact benefit India’s trade sector more than China’s.
Critics of the Congress are asking whether there is some connection between the donations to the RGF, the Congress party think-tank lobbying for an FTA with China, and allowing the trade deficit to jump 33 times between 2003-04 and 2013-14.
In addition, questions are being posed if this donation to RGF has any connection with the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Congress and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in 2008. There are demands that it is time that the Congress party comes clean on the MoU it signed with the CCP.
There are also demands that the Congress should make a full disclosure of its relations with CCP and on the contents of the MoU as this is essential in the national interest. The Congress is the largest opposition party in India and it has governments in several states, either singly or in alliance with other parties.
Critics point out that curiously, India’s trade deficit with China starts to balloon thereafter. Overall trade deficit with China increased 33 times, that is, from $1.1 billion in 2003-04 to $36.2 billion in 2013-14, under the UPA rule.
The question also arises over conflict of interests. How could an NGO, headed by a person who wielded unbridled power during ten years of UPA rule, took donations from the Chinese government, the Chinese Communist Party, and also from her own party’s government through national relief fund, and also took donations from eleven public sector undertakings and seven ministries? Was it all a cosy arrangement during UPA rule to fill the family coffers?

There are media reports over how the UPA government was in a hurry to close the RCEP (Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership) deal, in 2011 from which China would have benefited immensely, but Modi government, in the national interest, decided to withdraw from RCEP last year.

BJP leaders are now asking whether Rajiv Gandhi Foundation was so much short of funds that it had to take donation from the national relief fund, managed by the Prime Minister to grant relief to individuals and groups during natural calamities and major mishaps.

The matter does not end here. In 1991, when Dr Manmohan Singh was finance minister in Prime Minister P V Narasimha Rao’s government, he had announced Rs 100 crore grant to Rajiv Gandhi Foundation in his first budget speech in Parliament, to be given Rs 20 crore annually over a period of five years. Due to strong objections from the opposition, the RGF however declined to accept and said that the government should itself invest the funds in suitable projects.
Congress leaders must come clean about the party’s relationship with the Chinese government and the Chinese Communist Party. Already, the Chinese media is misusing remarks made by Congress leaders over the LAC situation in order to create confusion. At a time when all the opposition parties stand united behind Prime Minister Narendra Modi, why is the Congress trying to queer the pitch, and that too, at a time of national crisis ?

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Forty-five years have passed since the day when the then Prime Minister Indira Gandhi clamped emergency in India on June 25, 1975 in order to save her seat of power. Though much has been written on Emergency by historians, journalists and politicians, the present generation is still in the dark about what exactly happened during the Emergency.

It was on June 12, 1975, a brave judge of Allahabad High Court, Justice Jagmohan Lal Sinha unseated Prime Minister Indira Gandhi on charge of adopting corrupt practices during her election campaign in Rae Bareli, Uttar Pradesh. Already the nation was witnessing a massive movement spearheaded by Lok Nayak Jayaprakash Narayan against corruption and price rise. The movement had started in the shape of a students’ agitation in Gujarat, and spread to Bihar, UP, Delhi and other states. The opposition was demanding the right to recall elected people’s representatives who had failed to fulfill the aspirations of the people.

Indira Gandhi appealed against the High Court order in Supreme Court, which granted her conditional stay, which meant she could sit in Parliament but would not be able to vote. As the demand for her resignation reached a crescendo, Indira Gandhi decided to impose Emergency, suspend the Constitution and ordered nationwide press censorship. Thousands of opposition leaders including Jayaprakash Narayan, Morarji Desai, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, L K Advani, Chaudhary Charan Singh, Chandrashekhar, Parkash Singh Badal were arrested.

I still remember that dark night when democracy was throttled and the free press in India was fettered in chains. Indira Gandhi’s son Sanjay became an extra-Constitutional authority wielding tremendous power. Top Congress leaders used to tremble in front of him. The entire country was converted into a jail, and there was widespread fear in the minds of freedom loving citizens.

I was 18 years old and was studying in Delhi University’s Shriram College of Commerce. I had joined JP’s movement. Arun Jaitley was the president of Delhi University Students’ Union and also headed the Chhatra Sangharsh Samiti on the national level. I was part of his team. When Delhi police went to Jaitley’s house to arrest him, his father, a prominent lawyer, engaged the police officers in a legal debate and that provided crucial time for Jaitley to escape from the backdoor. All of us, including Vijay Goel, met in the college hostel. By morning, nobody knew that top leaders like Jay Prakash Narayan, Morarji Desai, Vajpayee, Parkash Singh Badal and others had been arrested.

As student leaders we had hardly any idea about the Emergency and its draconian provisions. We took out a procession inside Delhi University campus and shouted slogans against imposition of dictatorship. Slogans like “agar sach kehna bagaawat hai, toh samjho hum bhi baagi hain (if speaking out the truth is rebellion, then we all are rebels) still reverberate in my ears to this day. When the procession ended, Arun Jaitley addressed the students from atop a table inside the coffee house. We were surrounded by policemen. A few police officers, whom we knew, secretly advised us to vanish. I sat behind Vijay Goel’s scooter and escaped, but Jaitley was arrested and sent to Tihar jail.

We later came to know that under the Emergency provisions, all rights granted under the Constitution to citizens had been withdrawn, there was no freedom of press and speech, newspapers were censored, and policemen were given orders to shoot at sight. Most of the student leaders, including myself, went underground.

Vijay Goel and I decided to secretly bring out a newspaper, hurriedly named ‘Mashaal’ (flame). It was a handwritten newspaper, in which we wrote the entire background leading to imposition of Emergency. How Indira Gandhi’s election was set aside by Allahabad HC, why people were demanding her resignation, why J.P. had given the slogan “Singhaasan Khali Karo Ki Janata Aati Hai” . In the newspaper, we used to write how Sanjay Gandhi was wielding power as an extra-Constitutional authority. We also used to write about the condition of opposition leaders in custody and publish their messages. At night, we used to cyclostyle the sheets and secretly drop them in houses.

One night, Delhi police raided our secret place. Vijay Goel escaped in the dark. I was caught while gathering copies of cyclostyled sheets. I was taken to the police station, where I was first slapped and kicked. Policemen threatened to put me on ice slabs. I was a lanky, tall teenager, but I was unafraid of beatings by police. At night, policemen put me on a chair, and tied my legs from the front. They used sticks to beat the shins and tendons of my feet. Blood oozed from the wounds, but I do not know how I gained enormous courage during the torture. I refused to reveal the whereabouts of my colleagues.

At the age of 17 or 18, teenagers normally do not realize the true value of democracy and freedom. I was sad that freedom of speech and expression enshrined in our Constitution had been trampled upon. I was sent to Tihar jail, where I spent ten months. My days inside the jail is another story which I shall reveal at some other point of time.

The present generation can barely realize the amount of fear and despondence that had crept among the people during the Emergency days. At that time, there were no private news channels, nor social media. Only All India Radio and Doordarshan were the state-run media outlets that dished out news that the government wanted to convey.

I shall cite one example. Once Sanjay Gandhi decided to organize a Bollywood movie stars’ show in support of Emergency in Delhi. It was a musical evening organized by the Indian Youth Congress, which he headed. Most of the film stars, like Dilip Kumar, Amitabh Bachchan, Shashi Kapoor, Rakhi, Amjad Khan, Rishi Kapoor, Lata Mangeshkar, R D Burman, Mukesh and other had to come at their own cost. Only singer Kishore Kumar refused to come. The same day, All India Radio and Doordarshan were directed not to air any of his songs. Kishore Kumar was banned from air waves and Bollywood film producers were asked not to include Kishore Kumar’s songs in their movies. This was the level of dictatorship that was prevalent in those days.

I have hundreds of such tales, which I shall reveal at a later date. In 1977, the darkness of dictatorship ended, and after 21 months of Emergency, the Janata Party swept to power, decimating the Congress in practically the whole of northern India. Both Indira Gandhi and Sanjay Gandhi lost the elections from Rae Bareli and Amethi respectively. The new Janata Party government amended the Constitution in a manner so that no future government can impose Emergency and suspend fundamental rights of citizens.

On this day, we must remember all those titans, who gave tremendous sacrifice to protect our right to freedom of speech and expression. In Tihar Jail, I saw RSS and Jamaat-e-Islami leaders, Jana Sangh and Samjawadi leaders, Akali and rebel Congress leaders staying together in peace and tranquility. All of them jointly led the fight for freedom. The people of India, through its power of ballot, gave a clear message that it was willing to face hunger, poverty and police atrocities, but it will never tolerate loss of freedom of speech.

We must remember the atrocities committed during the 1975 Emergency. The unity and solidarity that we saw 45 years ago, must not weaken today at a time when the nation faces a grave challenge from China. Today, the entire nation stands rock solid and united against China, except for some Congress leaders who are toeing a different line, for reasons best known to them.

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In recent weeks, Congress leader Rahul Gandhi raised several questions on the India-China stand-off at the Line of Actual Control. He alleged that China has occupied Indian territory and that Prime Minister Narendra Modi has surrendered to China. He even went to the extent of using the phrase “Surender Modi”. Rahul also asked if the Chinese have not intruded into our territory then why were our 20 jawans martyred. He also asked why there was, what he called, intelligence failure in reporting the massive buildup by the Chinese army near the LAC.

The government has replied to most of Rahul Gandhi’s questions through facts, figures and pictures. These replies were necessary because China was taking undue advantage of Rahul’s remarks, and these were creating unnecessary confusion.

Broadly, Rahul and his mother Sonia Gandhi raised three questions: (1) Did the Chinese intrude into our territory by crossing the LAC, and if the answer is no, then why did the brutal clash take place in which our 20 jawans were martyred? (2) Was our intelligence sleeping when the Chinese army was carrying out massive buildup and bringing in artillery and armoured vehicles? (3) Whether Chinese army is still in occupation of our territory?

The government, on its part, has given detailed answers. The Chinese military buildup was a known fact and the Indian army had responded with a ‘mirror image’ buildup from our side in Ladakh. The government has also explained in detail how our army unit led by a commanding officer was treacherously attacked with stones and spiked iron rods, and how our jawans responded bravely and killed Chinese soldiers including their commanding officer.

The question about Chinese intrusions has also been answered. The Chinese troops have withdrawn from several positions, but were yet to vacate their positions in Pangong lake. Latest satellite images and reports indicate that the Chinese army has set up gun positions at the clash site in Galwan valley again, where our army had destroyed their observation post on June 15. There are also reports of Chinese military reinforcements in Depsang Plains. It seems that the Chinese have decided not to withdraw immediately in pursuance of the agreement arrived at the corps commanders meeting on Monday.

One thing is clear: the Chinese did not intrude into Indian territory in Ladakh, but crossed into no man’s land which does not belong to either side. Troops from both sides patrol the no man’s land, and the brutal fight took place on this very spot. This fact should answer Rahul Gandhi’s questions.

Another question that Rahul Gandhi also raised was: Why are the Chinese not revealing their casualty figures? The Chinese foreign minister and defence minister replied to this on Wednesday. They said China has indeed lost its soldiers in the clash with India, but they will not reveal the figures now.

Now that all the facts, figures and pictures have been revealed, Rahul Gandhi may probably not try to understand some of the replies in full. Even if he understands, he may not publicly agree to accept them. Therein lies the catch: it reveals that his intentions are not clear.

Rahul Gandhi is not asking questions in order to arrive at the truth. Had he asked questions about Modi’s strategy at the LAC, it was alright, but along with his queries he coined phrases like “Surender Modi”. He has been tweeting and asking where the PM was hiding, whether Modi is afraid of China. He also tweeted to say Modiji, do not fear, please come out and reply. Had Rahul not made such shallow remarks, he would not have faced the ire of his countrymen and even from his own party leaders.

At the Congress Working Committee meeting on Tuesday, Rahul Gandhi was practically cornered. A party leader from UP, who was formerly part of Team Rahul, said the party must ensure there should be no personal criticism of Modi on the issue of Chinese incursions. Rahul Gandhi flew into a rage and responded “ I am not scare of Prime Minister Modi. He can’t do anything to me. I will continue to criticize him. If people here have a problem with it, let the CWC ask me to keep quiet.” Rahul also said that he noticed many colleagues have avoided direct attack on the Prime Minister.

This is not the first time that Rahul has said that he was not afraid of Modi and he would continue to attack him directly. He had said earliest also that I do not bother what others in my party think.

Since 2014, when Modi became PM, Rahul has been making similar remarks. In the last elections, he used the phrase “Chowkidar Chor Hai”, he threatened that if his party came to power, Modi would be thrown into jail, he also said, if I speak for 10 minutes in Parliament, it will cause an earthquake, he also said, Modi can never speak directly to me by looking straight into my eyes because he fears me.

Rahul Gandhi has been making such personal attacks during every election. The question now related to those experienced leaders in his party, some of whom are now openly saying that such personal attacks against the PM should not be made. Why did this issue come up at all at the CWC meeting?

Rahul probably feels that these old, experienced leaders in his party are cowards and they fear Modi, but the truth lies somewhere else. Most of these leaders have used more tough remarks against Modi in the past, but after losing elections after elections, they have now realized that any direct attack on Modi causes more losses than gain to the party.

These experienced Congress leaders have realized that corruption and patriotism are two issues on which they can’t corner Modi. These leaders know that whenever Rahul took up these two issues before the people, his party faced tremendous losses. These leaders could have stood behind Rahul, had he won elections by making direct attacks against Modi. They would then have levelled more tough personal attacks against Modi. These experienced leaders now fully realize that by describing Modi as “chor” (thief) and “kaayar”(coward), Rahul is harming the party. That is why some of them got the courage to raise this matter at the CWC meeting.

On the other hand, Rahul Gandhi considers himself as a brave chap, and believes other leaders are cowards. He is, therefore, unwilling to listen to reason. During last year’s elections, Rahul alleged corruption in Rafale deal and sought evidence of destruction caused by Indian Air Force attack on Balakot. And now with tensions mounting against China, Rahul is alleging that the Chinese have captured our territory, but he forgot that during previous Congress governments, the Chinese capture vast territory by crossing the LAC.

For Rahul, Rafale, Pakistan, China, USA are not issues, his one-point agenda is how to corner Modi. Because of Rahul’s wrong strategy, the Congress lost two general elections consecutively and lost several states. Rahul lost in his family borough Amethi.

The situation has now come to such a pass that both the young and old, experienced leaders, do not have faith in Rahul’s leadership. The endgame of Indian politics is that no political party or leader can survive for long without power. I have been talking to several top Congress leaders. They tell me in private that the party would not have faced such a worse situation had Rahul not taken such misguided steps. These leaders clearly say that they want a leader who can garner votes for the party. Already, voices of dissent are growing.

India and China on Tuesday agreed on “gradual, verifiable” disengagement from the Line of Actual Control in Ladakh with hopes that this would soon lead to reduction in deployment of troops by both sides. This was decided after a 15-hour-long meeting between 14 Corps commander Lt Gen Harinder Singh and South Xinjiang Military District chief Major Gen Liu Lin.

The proof of the pudding now lies in the eating. The commanders had arrived at a similar consensus on June 6, but the Chinese troops treacherously attacked an Indian army colonel and his jawans in Galwan valley while withdrawing from their patrolling post.

India is closely monitoring the pullback through drones and surveillance aircraft. According to the agreement, there will be de-induction of additional battalions, artillery guns and armoured vehicles from ‘depth or near areas’ of confrontation site by both sides. The disengagement will begin in Galwan valley and Gogra-Hot Springs. An official statement issued by both countries said, “there was a mutual consensus to disengage. The modalities for disengagement from all friction areas in eastern Ladakh were discussed and will be taken forward by both sides”.

There is however uncertainty about Chinese troops withdrawal from Pangong lake, where the enemy has put up dozens of new fortifications and pill-boxes and has taken up positions on commanding heights on the north bank of the lake.

Senior Indian army officers are satisfied with Tuesday’s agreement. China has been clearly told that it must withdraw its troops to April, 2020 positions, to which the Chinese army agreed. Those who know the working of Chinese army well, say that China needs to be kept on a tight leash. The Chinese army always tries to intimidate its adversaries first, and if the adversary is undaunted, the Chinese then withdraw.

Let me share one interesting observation. The ten Indian army personnel including officers, who followed the fleeing Chinese soldiers into their territory and were held captive, narrated on their return, how the Chinese officers were stunned by the ferocity of our jawans when they saw their commanding officer killed.

Our brave jawans were less in number compared to the Chinese, but they fought back ferociously, snatched the spiked iron rods from the Chinese soldiers and used their own weapons to beat them with. Our jawans killed several Chinese soldiers by slashing off their necks with the spiked rods. The Indian army officers who returned from captivity revealed that the Chinese commanders were worried about the brave Indian response. On Tuesday, army chief Gen M M Narwane reached Leh to meet the injured jawans and boosted their morale.

The Chinese commanders are now cautious about any further escalation after the death of their 43 soldiers, including a commanding officer. The question now is: what next?

China is always up to its nefarious tricks like carrying out sneaky intrusions on the LAC. Since China is not a democratic nation, matters pertaining to military are never discussed there in public. The entire Chinese media, whether print of television, is under state control, and is used as propaganda tool across the world. The Chinese media regularly circulates false stories, rumours and fake videos. The US does not consider the major Chinese media outlets as free media, but as “diplomatic missions” who serve the interests of their government. The US is thinking of imposing the same restrictions on Chinese media that are imposed on movement of Chinese diplomatic personnel.

Already there is a US intelligence report published in ‘US News’ about senior PLA officer General Zhao Zongqi, who is in charge of Chinese army’s western theatre command, having given orders to his troops to treacherously attack the Indians in Galwan valley. Gen Zhao is consider.ed close to President Xi Jinping. When Xi carried out purge of senior Chinese generals several years ago, Gen Zhao was not touched. He was given charge of Tibet and Xinjiang military districts, and since then there has been military buildups and LAC transgressions by the Chinese, that led to the standoff in Doklam in 2017, and then in Naku La, Pangong lake and Galwan valley.

The Chinese army also indulges in psychological operations by circulating fake videos, but they do not stand critical scrutiny. The lies are soon exposed. Like most of the Chinese products, their lies and tricks are not durable. The Indian leadership is preparing a tough policy, to counter Chinese designs, through different methods: militarily, diplomatically and economically.