Govt must tell India exactly what’s happening: Rahul Gandhi on border situation with China

Rahul Gandhi has asked the government to clarify the ongoing border situation with China, soon after US President Donald Trump claimed Prime Minister Narendra Modi is "not in a good mood" over the "big conflict" with China.

After days of flaring border tension between India and China, senior Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Friday told the government to “come clean and tell India exactly what is happening”.

Gandhi’s comments come after confusion over the border situation as US President Donald Trump offered to mediate the issue.

Both India and China said they have proper mechanisms and communication channels to resolve the issue through dialogue and consultations.

However, Trump in a recent media interaction told the US press that Prime Minister Narendra Modi is “not in a good mood” over the “big conflict” between India and China.

Moments later, officials with knowledge on the matter told India Today TV that PM Modi last spoke to the US president on April 4 and added that there has been no interaction recently.

With confusion growing over the situation, Gandhi asked the government to clarify the ongoing border situation at Ladakh and Sikkim sectors.

“The Government’s silence about the border situation with China is fueling massive speculation and uncertainty at a time of crisis. GOI must come clean and tell India exactly what’s happening,” Gandhi said in a tweet.

The fresh border flare-up between India and China in eastern Ladakh sector deteriorated recently after soldiers of both nations were engaged in a violent physical brawl on the evening of May 5.

Tension continued to remain high till the next day, following which the two sides agreed to disengage. Hundreds of soldiers from both sides were injured in the face-off.

A similar incident followed in north Sikkim on May 9. As of now the Ministry of External Affairs has refuted all speculations of heightened conflict and said India is directly communicating with China on the matter via diplomatic contacts.