Yashwant flags concerns over Chinese aggression

Senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha on Thursday flagged serious concerns about Chinese aggression along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), saying that 640 sq km of land has been occupied by China in the sensitive Ladakh sector.

Senior BJP leader Yashwant Sinha on Thursday flagged serious concerns about Chinese aggression along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), saying that 640 sq km of land has been occupied by China in the sensitive Ladakh sector.

His comments came two days after Hindustan Times reported that the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) troops were not allowing their Indian counterparts to patrol the Indian perception of the LAC in eastern Ladakh.

Sinha said in Lok Sabha, "Parliament appears to be unaware of the situation there and the defence minister should clarify the actual position."

HT had reported on September 3 that a ground situation report on the subject was submitted by National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) chairperson Shyam Saran to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on August 10.

HT was the first to report on May 28 that India had restricted its surveillance to a self-imposed 'patrolling limit' ranging from 2km to 20km inside New Delhi’s perception of the LAC.

China’s aggressive stance has resulted in effectively a loss of 640 sq km across three sectors in Ladakh - Depsang, Chumar and Pangong Tso, according to the report submitted by Saran.

It has also revealed that after the April 15 incursion, which led to a three-week diplomatic stand-off, Depsang Bulge is no longer accessible to Indian forces. Also, 85 sq km of the Indian territory is now effectively under PLA control at Pangong Tso.

It is learnt that the government had told Saran to visit eastern Ladakh and Siachen sectors from August 2 to 9 and review the border infrastructure development and LAC situation. Saran, who had conducted a similar exercise in May 2007, has reported a grim scenario of Chinese transgressions.