The opposition’s criticism followed remarks by Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Director General Shatrujeet Kapur acknowledging that face-offs with China’s People’s Liberation Army had occurred at several locations along the frontier and that tensions were continuing.
Congress general secretary Jairam Ramesh accused the government of making what he described as calibrated concessions to China while withholding information about developments along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
Ramesh said the ITBP chief had rightly praised the force’s performance during confrontations with Chinese personnel but questioned why Modi and his administration had not publicly addressed the situation.
Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge intensified the criticism, demanding greater transparency about territorial security, military preparedness and the outcome of diplomatic engagements with Beijing.
“Enough clean chits to China. PM Modi must come clean before India!” Kharge declared, questioning whether another serious confrontation was developing along the disputed frontier.
The Ministry of External Affairs subsequently acknowledged that disturbances occurred when Chinese forces departed from established patrolling patterns. Its spokesperson, Randhir Jaiswal, referred questions concerning specific incidents to the Ministry of Defence.
Jaiswal said both countries continued using established diplomatic and military mechanisms to resolve outstanding issues and prevent misunderstandings or miscalculations along the LAC.
He emphasised that maintaining peace and tranquillity in border areas remained essential for the overall development of bilateral relations. The spokesperson also referred to discussions aimed at improving understanding of the disputed boundary in appropriate areas.
Kapur’s remarks, delivered during an ITBP function in Alwar, Rajasthan, provided official acknowledgement of continuing confrontations along the Arunachal Pradesh frontier. However, he did not publicly identify every affected location or disclose operational details.
The developments have renewed questions about the Taksing sector of Arunachal Pradesh, where allegations emerged earlier this year that Chinese personnel had obstructed access to traditional patrolling points.
Kharge questioned whether security forces had lost access to areas previously covered by established patrols. The alleged restrictions have not been independently established through publicly available official records.
The Congress also referred to corps commander-level discussions held in September at the Wacha-Damai border meeting point following tensions in the Taksing area.
Ramesh argued that the continuation of confrontations after those discussions raised questions about the effectiveness of existing arrangements for managing disputes.
At a press conference, Congress leader Pawan Khera demanded a fuller account of the situation and questioned whether diplomatic engagement had produced measurable improvements in border security.
Khera also challenged the government’s decisions concerning economic engagement with China, including the easing of certain restrictions affecting investment and visas.
The opposition linked its security concerns to India’s widening trade imbalance with China, arguing that growing commercial dependence could weaken New Delhi’s negotiating position.
Ramesh cited a trade deficit of approximately $112 billion during 2025-26, compared with $99 billion in the preceding financial year. He maintained that the imbalance was damaging domestic manufacturers, particularly micro, small and medium enterprises.
The Congress questioned whether expanding economic engagement was appropriate while territorial disputes remained unresolved. Its criticism reflected broader concerns about the relationship between trade policy, diplomatic negotiations and national security.
Kharge also sought clarification about the results of repeated meetings between Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, asking whether those engagements had secured meaningful progress on outstanding border questions.
The government has maintained that diplomatic engagement and military communication are necessary for managing differences with China. Its latest statement reiterated the importance of avoiding misunderstandings while addressing unresolved matters through established channels.
The renewed controversy comes as both countries pursue improved bilateral relations despite continuing disagreements over the alignment of their disputed boundary.
Congress leaders also raised concerns about China’s construction of a major hydropower project on the Brahmaputra system and Beijing’s practice of assigning Chinese names to locations in Arunachal Pradesh.
Ramesh questioned the implications of the proposed 60,000-megawatt hydropower development for downstream water security and the ecological interests of communities dependent on the river.
New Delhi has consistently rejected Beijing’s territorial claims over Arunachal Pradesh, maintaining that the state is an integral part of India.
The ITBP, which operates under the Union Home Ministry, is responsible for guarding substantial stretches of the frontier with China and works alongside the Army in sensitive border areas.
Kapur praised specialised ITBP personnel for their handling of confrontations and outlined efforts to strengthen operational capabilities through improved equipment, drones, counter-drone systems and specialised training.
