New Delhi: Congress leader Rahul Gandhi on Thursday alleged that Chinese troops have stopped Indian forces from patrolling in some sectors along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh and accused the Union government of attempting to "hide" the situation.
Allegation, official silence
There was no immediate response from the government to Gandhi's charge. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has not confirmed any such development in Arunachal Pradesh, reiterating that matters relating to the Sino-Indian border are "most serious" and that maintaining peace and tranquillity along the LAC is of "utmost importance."
Gandhi made the allegation while addressing the national convention of the "Rachnatmak Congress" in New Delhi.
"These days I get information from inside Prime Minister Modi's office, a full-on revolt is going on. What has happened is that in our patrolling area in Arunachal Pradesh, China has stopped us from patrolling, stating that…'it is your land but you cannot patrol here'."
Claims on leadership and messaging
The former Congress president accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and Home Minister Amit Shah of failing to take action. He alleged attempts by the government to suppress reporting of the situation, saying officials were "calling up media editors" to "hide it."
Gandhi also referenced comments made after the 2020 Galwan clash, saying the Prime Minister had asserted on a video call that "not even an inch" of Indian land was lost, while the Army had subsequently said Chinese forces had taken territory — a contrast he suggested had sent mixed signals to Chinese negotiators.
MEA stance and Chinese comment
The MEA, in recent public remarks, emphasised that the state of the frontier will determine the overall trajectory of bilateral ties and that India treats border-related matters with the highest seriousness. The comments were made amid media reports of what were described as aggressive Chinese postures in Upper Subansiri district of Arunachal Pradesh.
China, in its response on Wednesday, said the situation along the Sino-India border was "generally stable at the moment" and declined to comment specifically on reports of stepped-up Chinese military activity near the Arunachal Pradesh border.
What is on record
On record from the available reports are:
- The allegation by Rahul Gandhi that Chinese troops have stopped Indian patrolling in unspecified areas of Arunachal Pradesh.
- No formal confirmation from the Union government that Indian patrols have been curtailed in Arunachal.
- MEA statements stressing the seriousness of border issues and the importance of peace along the LAC.
- China's public comment describing the border situation as "generally stable" without addressing the specific reports referenced by Gandhi.
| Actor | Statement on record |
|---|---|
| Rahul Gandhi | Alleged China has stopped Indian patrols in parts of Arunachal; government asked to hide the matter. |
| Ministry of External Affairs | Stated border matters are "most serious"; maintaining peace and tranquillity along LAC is of "utmost importance." |
| China | Described border situation as "generally stable" and declined to comment on reports of increased activity. |
Context and implications
For years, patrolling by Indian and Chinese forces along the LAC has been a flashpoint in frontier management. Patrolling establishes and reinforces ground presence and local claims; restrictions or denials of patrol access can change control dynamics on the frontier even without major kinetic clashes. Gandhi's allegation, if substantiated, would signal a significant operational shift in at least some patrolling sectors in Arunachal Pradesh.
However, there is no official confirmation in the public domain that Indian patrols have been stopped in the state. The MEA's general statement underscores Delhi's sensitivity on border matters but does not validate the specific claim. China’s description of the situation as "generally stable" is a standard diplomatic formulation that neither confirms nor refutes allegations of localised incidents.
What remains unclear
Key details not yet publicly clarified include the precise locations where patrols are said to have been barred, the time frame of any such restrictions, whether the incidents involve temporary tactical stand-offs or longer-term denial of access, and whether senior military or diplomatic channels have logged formal protests or changes to patrolling protocols.
Until such specifics are placed on the record by official sources, the matter remains an allegation with potential strategic importance but without corroboration from the government or independent verification.
Reported from New Delhi.
