Effectively dismissing TV reports on Thursday that cited an NSAB report to claim China had grabbed 640 sq km of Indian territory in Ladakh, defence minister A.K. Antony told Parliament on Friday that National Security Advisory Board chairman Shyam Saran had “not stated” in a report that “China has occupied, or has denied access to India to any part of Indian territory”.
On border infrastructure development, he said “China is better positioned than India, I admit”, and added: “But of late, India is developing its infrastructure in the area, including deploying additional troops at the Indo-China border, constructing airstrips and roads”, and that India is “catching up with China”. Asked why incursions by Chinese troops had increased in the past few years, Mr Antony said: “It is their (China’s) fear that India is trying to catch up with them.” He also said in disputed areas on the border, Indian patrols go till the area which “we think is our land, and their (Chinese) patrols come to where they think is their land.”
Speaking in Parliament, Mr Antony said: “I would like to state categorically that Mr Shyam Saran has not stated in this report that China has occupied, or has denied access to India to any part of Indian territory. I would like to assure the House there is no question of India ceding to China any part of Indian territory. The government keeps a constant watch on all developments having a bearing on India’s security and takes all necessary measures to safeguard it. I would further like to assure the House the government would continue to strengthen our capabilities in border areas to protect our national interest”, Mr Antony said.
Earlier, Army sources had on Thursday dismissed the TV reports, saying it continued to patrol up to the Indian perception of the LAC.