'Deafening silence, calibrated concessions': Congress slams PM Modi on reported Arunachal Pradesh 'face-offs' with PLA

The Congress on Friday criticised Prime Minister Narendra Modi over reports of continuing faceoffs between Indian and Chinese troops at multiple locations along the Arunachal Pradesh border accusing him and his government of maintaining a deafening silence on the developmentsCongress general secretary incharge of communications Jairam Ramesh cited a media report quoting IndoTibetan Border Police ITBP Director General Shatrujeet Kapur as saying that confrontations had occurred at several locations in Arunachal Pradesh and were continuingIn a post on X Ramesh accused the prime minister of making concessions to China while avoiding a public response to the reported border developments There was no immediate response from the government or the BJP to the Congresss latest allegationsCongress questions governments response to border faceoffsWhile the selfstyled Vishwagurus calibrated concessions to China continue the DG ITBP has lauded and rightly so its performance in recent faceoffs with the PLA in Arunachal Pradesh on which there has been a deafening silence from the PM and his establishment Ramesh saidThe Congress leader also referred to corps commanderlevel talks held at Wacha and Damai in Arunachal Pradesh last month following a faceoff near TaksingRamesh claimed that local residents had reported losing access to patrolling points drawing a comparison with the border situation in eastern Ladakh He also raised concerns over Chinas renaming of places in Arunachal Pradesh and the construction of a large dam which he said posed risks to Indias ecological and water securityTrade deficit with China becomes another flashpointRamesh also criticised the governments handling of economic ties with Beijing pointing to Indias widening trade deficit with ChinaIndias merchandise trade deficit with China reached USD 11216 billion in the 202526 financial year compared with USD 9921 billion in 202425 according to figures published by the Indian Embassy in Beijing based on Department of Commerce dataThis has simply crushed our MSMEs in many industries Make in India has become Import from China This staggering trade deficit is in itself a very significant threat to our economic security Ramesh saidThe Congress has repeatedly questioned the governments approach to China arguing that the border situation and the growing trade imbalance require stronger action The government has previously rejected opposition allegations concerning Chinese incursionsRamesh revisits Modis 2020 remarks on ChinaThe Congress leader also referred to Modis remarks made on June 19 2020 after the deadly clash between Indian and Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley in which 20 Indian soldiers were killedIndia has been paying the price for the PMs infamous clean chit to China on June 19 2020 when he said after 20 of our brave jawans had been martyred Na koi wahan humari seema mein ghus aaya hai aur na hi koi ghusa hua hai na hi humari koi post kisi doosre ke kabze mein hai Ramesh saidHe further cited former Army chief General M M Naravanes account of the instructions he received during the border crisis in LadakhRamesh said the only instructions Naravane received while leading the Army when Chinese incursions took place in Ladakh were jo uchit samjho woh karoCongress raises questions over Operation Sindoor remarksRamesh also revisited public remarks made by Deputy Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Rahul Singh on July 4 2025 concerning Chinas role in Pakistans military campaign during Operation SindoorHe alleged that retired Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan publicly contradicted Singhs account on August 25 2026 and subsequently took charge of a think tank that Ramesh described as part of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh and BJP ecosystemThe Congress has in the past attacked the Modi government over its handling of ties with China and the Chinese incursions The government has in the past rejected the claims of the oppositionThe BJP had earlier accused the Congress of demoralising the morale of the armed forces