Reacting to reports of incursion by China, the Centre said on Monday that the Chinese herdsmen withdrew after a flag meeting between the armies of the two countries.
“The Chinese went back after the flag meeting,” Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh told reporters in New Delhi.
The former Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Manish Tewari had expressed surprise at the Narendra Modi administration’s “deafening silence” on the recent incursion in the Demchok area of Ladakh.
“Ever since this government came into existence, there have been incursions by China along the border in Ladakh. There was a map that was issued which showed parts of Arunachal Pradesh and Aksai Chin as part of China. Now, this latest incursion,” Mr. Tewari said.
There were reports on Sunday that some Chinese herdsmen had pitched tents in the Demchok area, but had withdrawn after talks between the two sides. Apparently, the incident had taken place on July 22 at the Charding Nilu Nullah Junction along the Line of Actual Control in the Demchok sector.
BJP leader Subramanian Swamy described the incursions as a routine affair. However, he empathised with the local population because of the trouble caused to them by these incidents.
Rashtriya Janata Dal leader Manoj Jha targeted the BJP for making “fake” promises about keeping the borders secure. CPI leader Atul Anjan exhorted the government to take all necessary steps to prevent such incursions.