Rahul Gandhi told journalists at Pangong on Sunday that Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s claim that China has not occupied an inch of Indian territory has no takers in Ladakh.

The Congress leader, who rode a bike to reach Pangong lake on Saturday, was speaking in Man village which is close to the newly created buffer zone on the India-China border. People in Ladakh were affected badly by China snatching the land where they grazed their cattle, he said.

“They can’t go there. They all are clearly saying this. The Prime Minister said not an inch of land was taken but that is not the truth. You can ask anybody. They will tell you,” Rahul said.

Ladakh, including Pangong, was the site of the worst confrontation in decades between the two countries in 2020, when the Chinese army killed 20 Indian soldiers.

Prime Minister Modi issued a statement soon after the confrontation that no one had intruded into Indian territory.

Since then, there has been “partial” disengagement in some areas but new buffer zones have been created in what was India-claimed territory before 2020. The 19th round of military talks between India and China to discuss disengagement was held earlier this month.

Asked if people in Ladakh believe the Centre’s claim that no land has been taken, Rahul said locals say the Chinese army has intruded and taken over their grazing land.

The Congress leader was in Pangong for the birth anniversary of his father Rajiv Gandhi. “Many years ago, Papa had come here and for him, it was the most beautiful place in the world. So I wanted to come. I thought I should come on his birthday,” Rahul said.

The Congress MP also flagged the anger of the Ladakhis against the Centre’s reluctance to grant them special status.

“There are lots of complaints here. They are not happy with the status they have been given. They want representation. There is an issue of unemployment. All are saying there is a lot of unemployment and inflation is rising,” he said.

Ladakh Congress leader Rigzin Jora said the party supports the demand for the inclusion of Ladakh in the Sixth Schedule of the Constitution that will grant locals exclusive rights over jobs and land.

Local Buddhists had cheered the scrapping of the special status of Jammu
and Kashmir in 2019 and its bifurcation into two Union Territories but they, along with the Muslims, now want special status and full statehood.

Rahul said he wanted to visit Ladakh during his Bharat Jodo Yatra but could not, for logistical reasons, and had then decided to make a separate trip to the region. He will visit Nubra Valley and Kargil during this trip.

“We are here to listen to whatever is in the hearts of the people,” he said.

Asked why he arrived in Pangong by bike, he said it was a better way of connecting with the people. “The bike ride was nice. I find if you come on bikes, you can talk to people freely. There is better access than other vehicles, which offer less interaction. The security men also did not mind it as there was less traffic. They would not have allowed it in Delhi or Uttar Pradesh,” he said.

Congress leaders Rajni Patel, Vikar Rasool Wani and former minister Nawang Rigzin Jora joined Rahul in paying tribute to Rajiv Gandhi.