Photo Courtesy: India Today Group
Itanagar: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi accused China of blocking Indian troops from patrolling along the Line of Actual Control in Arunachal Pradesh. He made these claims on August 13 while addressing the Rachnatmak Congress national convention. Gandhi asserted that Chinese forces are actively preventing Indian personnel from entering areas India claims as sovereign territory.
He quoted Chinese officials as telling Indian troops, "China has stopped us from patrolling, stating that... 'it is your land, but you cannot patrol here'." Gandhi lashed out at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, and Home Minister Amit Shah. He claimed these leaders are ignoring the issue and pressuring media editors to bury the story.
The Congress party specifically pointed to denied access at patrolling points in Taksing. Former external affairs minister Salman Khurshid expressed alarm, noting that the party views this as part of a wider effort by Beijing to encroach on Indian land. The party cited the construction of 628 Xiaokang villages near the border as proof of aggressive expansion.
Gandhi also attacked the government over the 2020 Galwan Valley clash. He argued that the Prime Minister weakened India by claiming no land was lost while the Army contradicted that stance. The Congress is demanding an immediate briefing and an all-party delegation to inspect the border. They want Modi to challenge Chinese President Xi Jinping directly when he visits next month.
The Ministry of External Affairs previously labeled border developments as serious, stating peace remains vital for bilateral relations. China denied the allegations on Wednesday, claiming the border situation remains stable.
Updated at 14th August 2026 at 6:15pm
Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge joined the party's push for answers on August 14. He specifically questioned whether Indian forces lost their regular access to Shera-5, a designated patrolling point, and demanded clarity on whether the People's Liberation Army has expanded its presence near Taksing. Kharge also raised concerns about local communities losing access to traditional grazing and hunting grounds in the region.
Kharge further challenged the government to prove that the pre-May 2020 status quo in eastern Ladakh has been restored. He stated that India retains full access to all areas and patrolling points it used prior to May 2020, urging the government to take Parliament into confidence regarding these claims.
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