Indian soldiers foiled transgression attempt by China in Ladakh: Govt clarifies on PM Modi's remark

Amid the attacks from the Opposition that PM Narendra Modi made contradictory claims and said the Chinese troops did not enter Indian territory, the government said on Saturday that an attempt is being made to give a "mischievous interpretation" to the remarks made by the prime minister.

Issuing a clarification over PM Narendra Modi's remarks that "no one has entered Indian territory or captured any military post ", the PM's Office said that the Indian soldiers foiled the transgression attempts of the Chinese side and to erect structures in Ladakh on June 15.

The clarification by PMO comes after several Congress leaders raised questions on PM Modi's remark and asked if there was no transgression by the Chinese, how did the Indian soldiers die.

In a statement, PM's Office said, "Attempts are being made in some quarters to give a mischievous interpretation to remarks by the Prime Minister at the All-Party Meeting (APM) yesterday." It also said that an unnecessary controversy was being created to lower the soldiers' morale.

The PMO has further said, "As regards transgression of LAC, it was clearly stated that the violence in Galwan on June 15 arose because Chinese side was seeking to erect structures just across the LAC and refused to desist from such actions....The sacrifices of the soldiers of the 16 Bihar Regiment foiled the attempt of the Chinese side to erect structures and also cleared the attempted transgression at this point of the LAC on that day."

"The Prime Minister's observations that there was no Chinese presence on our side of the LAC pertained to the situation as a consequence of the bravery of our armed forces," the PMO said.

The remarks come after several Opposition leaders, including Congress leaders Rahul Gandhi and P Chidambaram said PM Modi's comments were "baffling" as they stand in contradiction to what Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, Foreign Minister Jaishankar and the Indian Army has said so far about the Galwan clash.

PMO has clarified, "... words of Prime Minister 'Those who tried to transgress our land were taught a befitting lesson by our brave sons of soil', succinctly summed up the ethos and the values of our armed forces."

Chidambaram said on Saturday Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remark that no outsider was inside Indian territory in Ladakh, had practically left everyone "baffled and bewildered".

Chidambaram said even after the PM's statement on Friday, China had blamed India for the clashes and had re-asserted its claim to the entire Galwan Valley.

"What is the government's answer to this claim? Now that China is claiming the entire Galwan Valley, will Government of India reject this claim," he asked.