NEW DELHI, June 18 (NNN-AGENCIES) — Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi said New Delhi wants peace with China but the country is capable of giving a “befitting reply” following the border clashes that killed 20 Indian soldiers and reportedly claimed lives of a higher number of soldiers on Chinese side.
“India wants peace but capable of giving befitting reply in any kind of situation if provoked,” he told a virtual meeting with chief ministers of different Indian states he called originally to review the COVID-19 situation in the country.
He added: “We never provoke anyone . . . there should be no doubt that India wants peace, but if provoked, India will provide an appropriate response”.
Modi also added that the sacrifice of Indian soldiers killed in the clash with Chinese troops at Galwan Valley in Ladakh would not go in vain.
Modi’s remarks came for the first time after the India-China border clash in eastern Ladakh on Monday night while opposition Congress leader Rahul Gandhi demanded government explanations on the violent face-off that killed 20 Indian soldiers including a colonel.
“The country (India) will be proud that our soldiers died fighting the Chinese…I would like to assure the nation that the sacrifice of our jawans will not be in vain,” the indian PM said in Hindi.
Modi, however, said the “unity and sovereignty” of the country was the most important issue while his office earlier issued a statement calling an all-party meeting to discuss the situation on June 19.
Two minutes silence was observed at the onset of the meeting with the chief ministers as a mark of respect to the slain Indian soldiers while it was joined as well by home minister Amit Shah and defence minister Rajnath Singh.
Rajnath Singh earlier reviewed the Ladakh Border situation in a meeting at South Block in Delhi with senior security and military officials.
“The loss of soldiers in Galwan is deeply disturbing and painful. Our soldiers displayed exemplary courage and valour in the line of duty and sacrificed their lives in the highest traditions of the Indian Army”, Singh later said in a tweet message.
Reports from Beijing, meanwhile, said the foreign ministers of China and India on Wednesday held telephone talks over a deadly border clash, agreeing to “cool down” tensions as soon as possible.
Chinese foreign ministry said both sides agreed in the call between China’s Wang Yi and India’s Subrahmanyam Jaishankar to “deal fairly” with the events in the Galwan Valley and maintain peace in border areas.
State-run Xinhua reported Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi suggested Wednesday that China and India strengthen communication and coordination on properly addressing the border situation and jointly maintain the peace and tranquility in the border areas.
He said the overall situation at the border was stable and controllable. — NNN-AGENCIES
