The ‘C word’ has had to be uttered by the Narendra Modi government. In a statement to both Houses of Parliament, the Union defence minister said that Indian soldiers successfully repulsed China’s People’s Liberation Army from unilaterally altering the existing status quo — this time in Tawang, Arunachal Pradesh. The prime minister’s silence on Chinese ingression across several points of the border in Ladakh in the past may have prompted the government to be more circumspect on this occasion. But has the government shed its reticence on Chinese intrusion? Parliament was informed of the latest transgression days after it took place. The Opposition’s demand to discuss threadbare the situation on the border with China — an issue of national importance — has been denied by the government, yet again. The prime minister, a loquacious leader who has an opinion on most things under the sun, has been markedly taciturn about the alleged loss of territory in Ladakh as well as the little headway made in the talks on disengagement on the points of friction between the two countries. Shockingly, those demanding transparency on the subject have been vilified by the regime and its supportive ecosystem.
The truth about territorial losses to China is likely to remain concealed. This is because the Bharatiya Janata Party has a decidedly utilitarian relationship with the rhetoric of national security. It has been known to weaponise it to reap political dividends. A classic example of this was the Balakot air strike. The euphoria over this cross-border adventurism against Pakistan helped shore up Mr Modi’s image as a strong leader. That the Pulwama terror attack, which occurred days before Balakot, had taken place evading Mr Modi’s hawkish gaze was lost to a euphoric nation. But with China, a far more formidable opponent, Mr Modi has been forced to take shelter behind opacity. The problem for the prime minister is that an aggressive Beijing is unlikely to stop needling New Delhi. This strategy goes well with the expansionist mindset of China’s tallest leader. It would thus be difficult for the government to keep mum for long. Parliament and the people must be informed about the state of affairs at the border. That is an imperative in a democracy. The Opposition must also find ways to turn the threat to national security into a viable electoral issue. That would force the prime minister to speak.