India on Thursday came down heavily on China for constructing a bridge on Pangong lake in Eastern Ladakh, saying it was being constructed in illegally held area.
Stating that the government has been monitoring the activity closely, Arindam Bagchi, official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, said this bridge was being constructed in areas that have been under illegal occupation by China for around 60 years now.
“India has never accepted such illegal occupation,” the MEA spokesperson said at the virtual press briefing. He said the Government has been taking all necessary steps to ensure that India’s security interests were fully protected.
“As part of these efforts, Government has also, in the last seven years, increased significantly the budget for development of border infrastructure and completed more roads and bridges than ever before. These have provided much needed connectivity to local population as well as logistical support to armed forces. Government remains committed to this objective,’’ he added.
Ridiculous to Name Places in Arunachal Pradesh
On the Chinese side naming some places in Arunachal Pradesh last week, Bagchi termed it a “ridiculous exercise to support untenable territorial claims.’’
“Calling Tuting as “DouDeng” or River Siyom as “XiYueMu” or even Kibithu as “Daba” does not alter the fact that Arunachal Pradesh has always been and will always remain an inalienable part of India,’’ he said.
The spokesperson said: “We hope that instead of engaging in such antics China will work constructively with us to resolve the outstanding friction points in areas along the Western Sector of the Line of Actual Control in India-China border areas.”
Letter of Chinese Counsellor to MPs Inappropriate
Asked about a report of the Political Counsellor at the Chinese Embassy here writing letters to MPs on their participation in an event, the spokesperson said the tone and tenor of the letter are inappropriate. He said that the Chinese side should note that India is a vibrant democracy and MPs, as representatives of the people, undertake activities as per their views and beliefs.
He said that India expects the Chinese side to refrain from hyping normal activities by MPs and complicate further the situation in bilateral relations.