The Congress on Monday expressed grave concern over reports suggesting Chinese intrusion into India territory and asked the government to take the Opposition parties into confidence about the actual position on the ground.

Asserting that it would be a matter of grave concern if the reports of Chinese transgressions were true, the Congress said they stood by the soldiers and the government, but clarity about the situation was required.

Rahul Gandhi had tweeted a few days ago: “The Government’s silence about the border situation with China is fueling massive speculation and uncertainty at a time of crisis. The government must come clean and tell India exactly what’s happening.”

Party’s communication chief Randeep Surjewala told a media conference: “What steps have the Modi government taken to resolve this all important issue of national security and territorial integrity? What are the strategic preparations?”

Questioning the government’s silence when the national and international media have reported grave intrusion, he said: “Umpteen news reports reflect that Chinese forces have made serious transgressions into Indian territory at three points in Ladakh and Sikkim. The transgressions are reportedly in Galwan River Valley and Pangong Tso Lake Area in Ladakh.”

He added: “Reports of the Chinese Army moving thousands of troops in Galwan Valley and Pangong Tso Lake Area (Ladakh) are shocking and audacious attempt on our ‘territorial integrity’. Security experts and army veterans are seeing the Chinese transgressions into the Galwan River Valley as an attempt to threaten the Darbuk-Shyok-DBO Road which is vital to servicing Indian troops in Sub-Sector North and close to the Karakoram Pass.

“If these reports are true, the Modi government must answer: Have Chinese troops occupied Indian territory in the Galwan River Valley, Pangong Tso Lake in Ladakh?”

Referring to defence minister Rajnath Singh’s admission in a television interview that the Chinese troops had indeed entered Indian territory, Surjewala asked: “Have they crossed into our territory even beyond China’s own ‘Claim Line’, pitched hundreds of tents, constructed concrete structures and built a few kilometres of road along the LAC in Galwan River Valley as also on the north bank of Pangong Tso Lake?

“Is it correct that Chinese troops have occupied the ‘Finger Heights’ near Pangong Tso Lake? Do the Chinese transgressions into Galwan River Valley threaten the operation of Darbuk-Shyok-DBO Road vital to servicing Indian troops in Sub-Sector North and Karakoram pass?”

Asked about Modi’s reference to “lal aankh” (red eye, suggesting an unyielding attitude) while dealing with China, Surjewala said: “It is true that the Prime Minister used those expressions while explaining how he intended to speak to China and won applause. But this is not the time to indulge into partisan political warfare. The priority is to protect out territory. We stand by the government in this hour of crisis.”

To another question about the call to boycott Chinese products that the BJP supporters are giving, he said what is important is to protect India’s borders, without clarifying the party’s stand on the sensitive issue.

The BJP’s supporters have been left confused in the past six years as Modi had tried his best to improve relations with China hosting President Xi Jinping twice and taking the unusual step of a one-on-one unofficial engagement.