All’s not quiet on the Chinese front. The prime minister, however, thinks otherwise. At an all-party meeting — did it not come a bit late in the day? — Narendra Modi declared that no intrusion has taken place on Indian territory and ruled out the possibility of Indian posts being occupied by any adversary. The reality, as is often the case during Mr Modi’s regime, may offer a different, worrying picture. Twenty brave Indian soldiers lost their lives in an unprecedented confrontation with Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley. If what Mr Modi says is true — India has not suffered any incursions — what led to the conflagration and the tragic fatalities on the Indian side? The Prime Minister’s Office has clarified that the statement reflected ground realities after the clash. This has only added to the confusion. Already, the Chinese embassy is on record saying that the Galwan Valley falls on the other side of the line of actual control, even though the site has been in India’s possession without any dispute for years. Should the prime minister’s assurance of territorial sovereignty being intact then be read as a tacit confirmation of the Chinese position on the matter? This can only mean that Mr Modi is not averse to redrawing the Sino-Indian map. Astoundingly, the prime minister and the foreign ministry seem to be talking at cross-purposes. After the martyrdom of Indian soldiers became public, the foreign ministry had clearly stated that all ‘activities’ — infiltration, presumably- had taken place on the Indian side of the line of actual control. This, along with several other statements, is consistent with reports that have been trickling in for a while, suggesting a massive Chinese presence in the area.

Mr Modi has been elected prime minister by the people of India. He is mandated to inform the nation about the details of not just the death of India’s courageous jawans but also the status of the LAC. His evasiveness on a matter so crucial to national security is unpardonable. The responses to the searching questions posed by the Opposition, especially by Sonia Gandhi, during the course of the deliberations were unsatisfactory. It must be remembered that Mr Modi excels at the game of smoke and mirrors. After the terrorist attack in Pulwama, the prime minister — he had an election to win on that occasion — had ordered surgical strikes. The outcome of that raid remains a matter of conjecture. Moreover, there is no clarity yet on the lapses that led to the Pulwama attack in the first place.

China, unlike Pakistan, is a different kettle of fish altogether. Retaliation, whether military or economic, is not a feasible option. India, therefore, must fall back on diplomacy. Sadly, Mr Modi’s performance in diplomacy has been disastrous. In spite of several meetings with the Chinese premier, India is now staring at losses — of lives and, possibly, territory. Mr Modi has also managed to isolate most of India’s allies in the neighbourhood. Indians must reflect on Mr Modi’s solemn pledges at such a critical hour.