Congress MP Jairam Ramesh criticised what he described as the “deafening silence” of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government over the developments, citing remarks by ITBP Director General Shatrujeet Kapur, who said face-offs had taken place at several locations in Arunachal Pradesh and were continuing.
In a post on X, Ramesh questioned the government’s handling of relations with China and said the ITBP personnel had performed commendably during the recent confrontations with the People’s Liberation Army (PLA).
The Congress leader also questioned the outcome of Corps commander-level talks held in September to maintain peace along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). The meeting was the first flag meeting between senior military commanders in the Arunachal Pradesh sector.
Ramesh further alleged that local residents had reported losing access to designated patrolling points, drawing a comparison with earlier developments in eastern Ladakh. He also raised concerns over China’s renaming of places in Arunachal Pradesh and the construction of a proposed 60,000-MW dam, which he said could threaten India’s ecological and water security.
Kapur said the confrontations had been continuing since July, when reports emerged that Chinese troops were preventing Indian forces from accessing key patrolling points near Taksing along the LAC.
“Over the past few days, a situation arose where face-offs happened at several locations in Arunachal Pradesh, and it continues,” Kapur said at an annual felicitation ceremony for ITBP personnel.
His remarks marked an official confirmation of continuing face-offs in the northeastern border sector. They also indicated that tensions had persisted during the BRICS Summit held in New Delhi in September, which Chinese President Xi Jinping attended.
Kapur praised the performance of the ITBP’s newly raised Shaurya commandos during the confrontations, describing their role as exemplary. The specialised personnel are trained for high-altitude operations and challenging combat conditions.
Established in 1962, the ITBP guards India’s 3,488-kilometre-long border with China along the LAC. Kapur said the force was strengthening its preparedness through the deployment of drone platoons in border units, specialised combat training to handle situations similar to the 2020 Galwan Valley clash, and the development of underground infrastructure.
Border tensions in Arunachal Pradesh have intensified in recent months. In July, a fact-finding team from the People’s Party of Arunachal (PPA) alleged that Chinese PLA troops were obstructing Indian access to designated patrolling points in the Taksing area. The team also flagged increased Chinese activity in Upper Subansiri district.
The PPA, a regional party with two MLAs in the Arunachal Pradesh Assembly, raised concerns over the situation. The government rejected the allegations while reiterating that Arunachal Pradesh was an integral and inalienable part of India.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju also told India Today that there had been no new Chinese occupation in Arunachal Pradesh. He acknowledged, however, that local residents had concerns about access to certain grazing areas near the border.
