India China standoff: Rajnath Singh to address Parliament on September 15 over border issue
The minister's address is expected to take place around 3 pm today when the proceedings in the Lok Sabha will start
New Delhi: Defence minister Rajnath Singh is likely to address the Parliament on Tuesday over the ongoing stand-off between Indian and Chinese troops along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. The opposition led by Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has been targeting the government over the issue and demanding a debate on it.
The minister's address is expected to take place around 3 pm today when the proceedings in the Lok Sabha will start.
The statement would assume significance in the backdrop of demands made by the Opposition for a debate on the issue. Rajnath Singh had met his Chinese counterpart Gen Wei Fenghe in Moscow recently.
External Affairs minister S Jaishankar and Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi had also met in Moscow a few days ago.
The talks in the Russian capital took place days after tensions flared up again in eastern Ladakh after China unsuccessfully attempted to occupy Indian territory in the southern bank of Pangong lake when the two sides were engaged in diplomatic and military talks to resolve the four-month-old border row.
Following the fresh confrontation, India occupied a number of strategic heights on the southern bank of Pangong lake and strengthened its presence in Finger 2 and Finger 3 areas in the region. China has strongly objected to India's move. However, India has maintained that the strategic heights are on its side of the LAC.
The Monsoon session 2020 of Parliament began on Monday. The 18-day Parliament session is scheduled to be held between September 14 and October 1. There will be a four-hour session for each House each day (9 am to 1 pm for Rajya Sabha and 3 pm to 7 pm for Lok Sabha.