Sanjeev Pargal
JAMMU, Apr 25: People of Ladakh have vowed to fight the Chinese incursions with courage and bravery and won’t be cowed down by the provocations of the neighbouring country, whose Army has intruded about 10 kilometers inside the Indian territory at Daulat Beg Oldi (DBO) sector in Eastern Ladakh and set up their tents there.
“We have given many sacrifices during 1962 Chinese war and 1999 Kargil war. We are neither for China nor for Pakistan but for India. Our patriotism is beyond any doubt. Though we stand for peaceful and diplomatic solution to present standoff between India and China but if need arises, India shouldn’t hesitate from teaching China a lesson this time as it has been harassing nomads and other people living close to the borders for past quite some time,’’ a number of representatives of Ladakh to whom the Excelsior spoke on phone today, said.
Though some of them openly voiced their resentment against the Centre for treating Ladakh casually not giving its due right, they, however, declared that this aspect wouldn’t come in the way of their fight against China should such a situation arise.
Ghulam Hassan Khan, Independent Member of Parliament (MP) from Ladakh said the Government of India was exploring “best available options’’ to end the current stalemate between the two neighbouring countries.
“I think it will be settled. Negotiations are the only options. How the Chinese Army managed to enter 10 kilometers inside is also a matter of investigation but we have to see that the boundary with China hasn’t been demarcated,’’ Mr Khan said, adding that the flag meetings have also been held between the two sides and “we are confident that the deadlock would be broken’’.
Declaring that brave and courageous people of Leh were ready for any kind of “sacrifice’’ to protect the boundaries of India with China, Independent MLA from Nobra, Tsetan Namgayal in whose Assembly segment the DBO sector falls, said the patriotic people of Ladakh wouldn’t allow even an inch of Indian territory to be lost to China.
“We should first use all peaceful and diplomatic means to resolve the deadlock but if China didn’t understand the language of peace, it’s time now to teach them a lesson. If we maintain silence over their one major act of provocation, they would indulge in more acts. We can’t act like mute spectator. It’s time for us to do something,’’ Mr Namgayal said and declared that the people of Ladakh for standing like a rock with India and have nothing to do with China or Pakistan.
Mr Namgayal said: “our soldiers and the people shouldn’t feel demoralized. They shouldn’t be let down. We have to protect our boundaries at any cost and that should be our prime task. Our people would stand with our jawans come what may’’.
The Nobra MLA, however, lamented that Ladakh, though being a strategic point, having boundaries with China, Pakistan and Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK), was never given its due share of development and other issues.
Leh Buddhist Association (LBA) president, Dr Tundup Tsewang recalled that over 100 Buddhist soldiers had sacrificed their lives in 1962 war with China while 26 others were martyred in 1999 war with Pakistan in Kargil.
Dr Tsewang asserted that the Indian Government has never viewed Ladakh seriously notwithstanding the fact that it was surrounded from three sides—China, Pakistan and PoK.
“During every difficult times—be it 1962 China war or 1999 Kargil war, our soldiers and people have stood fully behind the country sacrificing their lives to protect the Indian boundaries. Ladakh Scouts has also lost many lives during the wars and won applauds. But for all our sacrifices and patriotism, Ladakh Buddhists have been treated shabbily. We have never been given our due. Rather attempts have been made to marginalize us,’’ he said, adding their demand for the Union Territory (UT) status has also been treated in a very casual manner by the Union of India.
Noting that earlier also, Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has resorted to incursions at many places in Leh, Dr Tundup said the people of Leh including nomads have been the sufferer of these intrusions and it was time for the Government of India to see how they had to resolve the matter with China.
Ladakh Autonomous Hill Development Council (LAHDC), Leh, Chief Executive Councilor (CEC) Rigzin Spalbar said the morale of the local people was very high despite Chinese intrusions.
“Every inch of the Indian territory should be guarded and protected. The people are ready for any eventuality. Our people are brave and patriotic and ready to defence the Indian borders at any cost,’’ Mr Spalbar said pointing out that 600 incursions by the Chinese troops had been reported last year.
However, he said, this time the incursion was of different kind and “very serious in nature’’ as the Chinese troops had intruded deep inside the Indian territory.
“The Government of India must use all its diplomatic channels and resolve the standoff with China. No stone should be left unturned the resolve the issue diplomatically first,’’ Mr Spalbar said but added that, in no case, “even an inch of our territory should be lost’’.
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