The Opposition has drawn attention to the Chinese incursions at a time Prime Minister Narendra Modi and the BJP have raked up the Katchatheevu controversy and alleged ceding of territory by India under the Congress.

Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said: “Those espousing muscularity on Katchatheevu are scared of speaking on China. The government stonewalled all efforts by the Opposition parties to debate Chinese intrusion in both Houses of Parliament. Questions on Chinese intrusion were not answered and discussions were not allowed in parliamentary consultative committee meetings since 2020.”

Wondering why strategic issues were dragged into partisan politics as the Katchatheevu row is bound to affect India’s relations with Sri Lanka, Tewari said: “Even when the no-confidence motion was brought in the aftermath of the Manipur crisis, questions were asked on China but the Prime Minister didn’t utter a word. External affairs minister S. Jaishankar and other ministers also didn’t talk about China. What’s greater proof of the government’s insensitivity to India’s territorial integrity?”

Congress veteran P. Chidambaram also raised concerns about diplomatic fallouts as Modi had publicly spoken about Katchatheevu, bluntly saying that Bharat Mata’s limbs were given away by the Congress government. Even the external affairs minister dwelt on the issue, evoking contempt and ridicule from the Congress which felt the government was behaving irresponsibly and distorting facts for petty electoral gains.

Chidambaram said: “Before Jaishankar and others make statements straining the relations between India and Sri Lanka, let them remember that there are 25 lakh Sri Lankan Tamils and 10 lakh Indian Tamils living in Sri Lanka. Any untruthful and belligerent statement on Katchatheevu after 50 years will bring the Sri Lankan government and the 35 lakh Tamils into confrontation. Let the government show its belligerence to China.”

Chidambaram added: “Under the BJP government, China has occupied 2000sqkm of Indian territory and is fortifying the area. China is on a renaming spree and is merrily changing the names of villages and landmarks. Why is the foreign minister subdued in his response to the actions of China?”

Tewari, a former information and broadcasting minister, also said Jaishankar’s response to the renaming of places in India by China reflected the Modi government’s “meekness and weakness”.

Tewari expressed shock at the Modi government’s audacity in questioning the courage and commitment of Indira Gandhi who changed the political map of South Asia and carved out a new country despite threats and pressures from the US and other European nations. He stressed the courage demonstrated by Indira Gandhi against the US, comparing it with Modi who hasn’t even taken China’s name despite encroachment at multiple points in Ladakh.