The Congress on Thursday fiercely confronted the Narendra Modi government’s triumphalism about a breakthrough with China on the intrusion into Ladakh, describing the agreement as “a brazen compromise on national security and territorial integrity”.

Rahul Gandhi set the tone of discourse soon after defence minister Rajnath Singh’s statement in the Rajya Sabha with this blunt tweet: “No status quo ante=No peace & tranquillity. Why is the Government of India insulting the sacrifice of our jawans and letting go of our territory?”

While Rajnath himself referred to outstanding issues with China, the tenor of his statement suggested satisfaction even as status quo ante had not been restored and Indian troops were clearly in a disadvantageous position compared to the situation prior to April-May 2020. Condemning the government’s stance as a “failure of Modi’s diplomacy and strategy”, Congress communications chief Randeep Surjewala said that “the false bravado of a fake nationalist government was exposed”.

Surjewala said in a statement: “Modi government is brazenly compromising national security and India’s territorial integrity. This is clear from defence minister’s statement. The Prime Minister is scared of even uttering the word ‘China’, much less ensuring that Chinese are pushed back decisively from illegal occupation of India’s territory in Depsang Plains, Gogra Hot Springs Sector, Pangong Tso Lake area and Chumur, southern Ladakh.”

Accusing the government of misleading the nation, Surjewala said: “Modi government refused to give an unequivocal assurance for restoration of ‘status quo ante’ as on April 2020. Can the Prime Minister and defence minister explain their complete and total failure in protecting India’s territorial integrity? Why is the government agreeing to a selective disengagement only in Pangong Tso Lake area and that also by presumably changing the LAC to India’s disadvantage? Even in Pangong Tso Lake area, India was occupying Finger 4 and was patrolling up to Finger 8 on the north bank. India’s stance has been clear and unequivocal — LAC is up to Finger 8. As per defence minister’s statement, Indian troops will withdraw now to Finger 3.”

Rejecting the BJP’s charge that the Congress was being irresponsible on such a sensitive issue, Surjewala said India’s territorial integrity was non-negotiable and was about partisan warfare and blame-game.

He said, “Does it not tantamount to redrawing the LAC to India’s disadvantage and creating a buffer zone between Finger 3 and Finger 8, that is, on our side of the LAC? Our forces had shown extraordinary courage and valour in face of the Chinese aggression and had occupied the vantage points on ‘Kailash Ranges’ on the southern bank of Pangong Tso Lake area. Defence minister’s statement today would mean that our armed forces will be withdrawing from these vantage points in Kailash Ranges on the southern bank.”

Arguing that one of the most strategic and provocative incursions into the Indian territory by Chinese was in Depsang Plains, Surjewala said: “The Chinese have occupied our territory 18 kilometres inside the LAC up to Y-Junction (bottleneck) and are stopping our armed forces from patrolling up to the PP-10, PP-11, PP-11A, PP-12 and PP-13. This has also jeopardised one of the most important and strategically placed airstrip of Daulat Beg Oldi. Even in the year 2013, China had intruded up to the Y-Junction and there was nearly a six months long stand-off between Indian and Chinese forces. The then UPA-Congress government and our armed forces successfully pushed the Chinese back to LAC at that point of time without ceding any territory.”

The Congress statement further said: “Why is the government completely silent on pushing the Chinese back from Gogra Hot Springs? As per reports, Chinese are also patrolling up to Chumur in southern Ladakh. Why did the government not address this important strategic issue? Minister V.K. Singh undermined India’s position by making statement contrary to national interests and giving a handle to China to unjustifiably paint India as the aggressor. Why has V.K. Singh not been sacked for undermining India’s strategic position? Does the Prime Minister’s silence indicate that the statement was made by Singh at the behest of the government? If so, what is the reason for this brazen compromise of India’s national security?”