Apologise for giving 'clean chit' to China: Cong to Modi

New Delhi: Hitting out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his remarks over intrusion by Chinese forces in the Galwan Valley, the Congress on Saturday sought an apology from Modi and asked him to "withdraw" his "clean chit" to China that no one has entered into Indian territory while citing a Pentagon report that claims China has entered 4.5 km into Arunachal Pradesh.

While taking on the government, Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said that the prime minister must give answers and give deadlines on when there will be status quo ante as on April 2020 on all our borders with China.

While addressing a Press conference, Khera said, "The Chinese intrusion has now been confirmed by the Pentagon to the US Congress in its annual report. The villages across the border are of dual-use that have not only civilian population but act as a cantonment for the Chinese army."

"In June 2020, BJP MP in Arunachal Pradesh Tapir Gao had written to the prime minister and the home minister warning them of the transgressions made by China into Indian territory," Khera said.

The Congress leader further said that the prime minister and the home minister denied the transgressions and it has been 17 months since Modi gave a "clean chit" to China.

"That clean chit is a dark chapter in our history because it was used by China across the world. China was emboldened by this clean chit, not just in Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh but also in Uttarakhand, where PLA entered and destroyed our infrastructure," he told reporters.

"This is a very serious issue. The prime minister must withdraw his clean chit given to China and give a deadline to the nation and tell when the status-quo ante of April 2020 be restored across all our borders with China, whether it is Depsang, Gogra Hot Springs, Daulat Beg Oldie or Arunachal Pradesh," he said.

"We need answers, we need deadlines, we need dates and we need an apology for misleading the world that China has not entered our territory," Khera stressed.

Notably, on June 15, 2020, India and China engaged in a face-off in the Galwan Valley in Ladakh. In the worst-ever face-off, 20 Indian soldiers, including the commanding officer of an infantry battalion, lost their lives in the incident.

At an all-party meeting on June 19, 2020, which was convened by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, the PM had said that the soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice taught a "lesson" to those who had dared to look towards India and that the Army has been given "freedom" to take necessary steps.

However, the PM had also clarified that neither is anyone inside our territory nor is any of our posts captured.