'Modi Ki Chinese Guarantee': Kharge slams Centre on border issue, shares satellite photos

NEW DELHI: Congress chief Mallikarjun Kharge on Sunday once again put PM Narendra Modi in the docks, demanding the government to "take the country into confidence" on the border situation with China.
Sharing a media report that claimed Beijing's advancement around Ladakh's Pangong Lake, Kharge lashed out at the central government saying "Modi Ki Chinese Guarantee continues".
Referring to PM Modi's past speeches, Kharge took a dig at him saying the government "wears 56-inch big Chinese blinkers on its 'Laal Aankh'!" (red eye).
The Congress chief shared a media report with satellite images to claim that China's military is digging in for the long haul in the area around Pangong Lake in eastern Ladakh, having constructed underground bunkers to store weapons and fuel and hardened shelters for armoured vehicles at a key base in the region.
"How can China build a military base near Pangong Tso on land which was under Indian occupation until May 2020," Kharge said.
In his post, Kharge said, "Even as we enter the fifth year of the 'CLEAN CHIT" given by PM Narendra Modi on Galwan, where our brave soldiers sacrificed their lives, China continues to impinge upon our territorial integrity!"
"Just to recall - 10th April 2024 - PM Modi in an interview to foreign press failed to put forth India's case strongly at the global stage".
"13th April 2024 - EAM's statement that 'China has not occupied any of our land' exposed Modi government's meek policy towards China!"
"4th July 2024 - Even though EAM meets his Chinese counterpart and says, 'Respecting the LAC and ensuring peace and tranquility in the border areas is essential'," he wrote on X.
"China continues to be belligerent in occupying our territory and constructing a military base at Sirijap, reportedly a land that was under Indian control," Kharge said.
He alleged that the Modi government is responsible for "not maintaining the status quo ante at the Line of Actual Control".
"We have lost possession of 26 Patrolling Points (PP) out of 65 including points in Depsang Plains, Demchok and Gogra Hot Springs area," he alleged.
"'Modi Ki Chinese Guarantee' continues as his government wears 56-inch big Chinese blinkers on its 'Laal Aankh'!" Kharge said.
The Indian National Congress "once again reiterates its demand to take the nation into confidence on the border situation at LAC", he said.
"We stand shoulder to shoulder with our valiant soldiers," Kharge asserted.
While there was no immediate reaction from the BJP or the government on Kharge's post, the government have in the past rejected all allegations of Chinese incursion being levelled by the Congress.
The Indian and Chinese armed forces have been engaged in a prolonged confrontation in eastern Ladakh since May 2020.
Despite disengaging from several points of contention, a comprehensive resolution to the border dispute remains elusive.
The relationship between the two nations suffered a severe setback following the intense skirmish in the Galwan Valley in June 2020, which represented the most significant military clash between the two countries in recent history.
India has consistently maintained its stance that normal relations with China are contingent upon the restoration of peace along the border regions.
In an effort to address the ongoing standoff, the two sides have conducted 21 rounds of Corps Commander-level talks thus far.
However, a mutually acceptable solution to the border issue has yet to be achieved, and the process of negotiation and dialogue continues in the hope of finding a peaceful resolution to this long-standing dispute.