NEW DELHI, October 23 (Aalimi Nation) – The Congress on Friday stepped up its attack on the Narendra Modi government over what it called silence on recent face-offs between Indian and Chinese troops in Arunachal Pradesh. The government and the BJP had not responded to the party's claims at the time of writing.

Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh made the criticism in a post on X, speaking of "deafening silence from the PM and his establishment". Party president Mallikarjun Kharge also posted: "Enough clean chits to China. PM Modi must come clean before India!"

The ITBP chief's remark

The criticism followed comments by Indo-Tibetan Border Police Director General Shatrujeet Kapur on Thursday. Speaking at a felicitation event for the force in Rajasthan, he said face-offs had taken place several times inside Arunachal Pradesh and that one "is still ongoing". Mr Kapur also said the force's weapons are about 50 years old and need modernisation, and he stressed the need for drones, anti-drone systems and underground shelters.

What Mr Ramesh alleged

Mr Ramesh said corps commander talks were held at Wacha and Damai in Arunachal Pradesh last month, after a face-off near Taksing. He said locals had reported that patrolling points had been lost again, as in Ladakh. These claims were made by the Congress leader and were not independently confirmed in the accounts reviewed.

He also pointed to China's renaming of towns in Arunachal Pradesh and to a 60,000-MW dam China is building, which he said threatens ecological and water security downstream.

On trade, Mr Ramesh said India's deficit with China reached a record $112 billion in 2025-26, up from $99 billion the previous year. He said this has hurt small and medium enterprises and described it as a significant economic security threat.

He also recalled the Prime Minister's statement of June 19, 2020, made days after 20 Indian soldiers were killed in the Galwan Valley clash, that no one had entered Indian territory or captured posts. Mr Ramesh said India is still paying the price for that statement.

Army remarks cited

Mr Ramesh cited former Army chief General M. M. Naravane's account of the instruction he received during the Ladakh incursions: "Do whatever you think is appropriate." He also referred to remarks by the Deputy Chief of Army Staff on July 4, 2025 about Chinese involvement in Pakistan's military campaign, and said a retired Chief of Defence Staff later publicly contradicted them.

Background to the face-offs

According to the background accounts, the face-offs near Taksing in Upper Subansiri district began in late July, when troops met during routine patrolling. Chinese troops are said to have returned in larger numbers and pitched tents several kilometres inside the Line of Actual Control, and India has since increased its deployment.

The confrontations continued despite a meeting of the Working Mechanism for border affairs on August 6, talks between the Special Representatives in Beijing on August 26 and corps commander talks in September. Face-offs were also reported to continue during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Delhi for the BRICS summit from September 11 to 13.

No official reaction to Friday's Congress statements had been reported.