Ties depend on peace on border: Rajnath Singh tells Chinese counterpart Li Shangfu

 

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh and his Chinese counterpart General Li Shangfu hold talks in New Delhi on April 27, 2023. Photo: Special Arrangement

Violation of existing agreements has eroded the entire basis of bilateral relations and the development of India-China ties is premised on the prevalence of peace and tranquillity at the borders, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh told his Chinese counterpart General Li Shangfu on Thursday.

This is the first high-level military visit from China since the start of the Ladakh Standoff in April 2020.

Also Read | Eastern Ladakh row: India, China look to LAC resolution to ‘enable progress’ in ties

Just five days before the bilateral, the two countries held the 18th round of Corps Commander talks as part of the continuing dialogue to resolve the standoff which remained inconclusive in which both sides agreed that restoring peace along the border areas would “enable progress” in recently strained relations.

“The two Ministers had frank discussions about the developments in the India-China border areas as well as bilateral relations,” a Defence Ministry statement said after the bilateral talks. “He reiterated that violation of existing agreements has eroded the entire basis of bilateral relations and disengagement at the border will logically be followed with de-escalation.”

All issues at LAC need to be resolved in accordance with existing bilateral agreements and commitments, Mr. Singh further stated.

Defence sources said that Mr. Singh categorically stated that military cooperation between the two countries can progress “only” if peace and tranquility is established at the border. “ He said after disengagement, there should be movement towards de-escalation and expressed hope for positive response. India wants to improve relations with China but it can happen only after peace and tranquility are restored at the border,” a source stated.

The Chinese Minister and State Counsellor is in New Delhi to attend the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) Defence Ministers’ meeting scheduled on April 28.

Also Read | India-China border now stable, situation of ‘emergency control’ over: Chinese diplomat

Defence Ministers of China, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Russia, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan are set to participate in the SCO meeting. India has also invited Belarus and Iran, currently observers in SCO, for the meeting. The Defence Minister of Pakistan would be participating virtually. The Ministers will discuss matters related to regional peace and security, counter-terrorism efforts within SCO and effective multilateralism, the Defence Ministry stated.

India became a full member of SCO grouping in 2017. India has ancient civilizational, cultural and spiritual ties with the SCO member countries, the Ministry said in a statement adding that India considers SCO as an “important regional group to promote multilateral, political, security, economic and people-to-people interactions in the region.”

As the SCO Chair, India organised two defence-related activities to enhance interoperability amongst member states, a workshop on Humanitarian Assistance and Disaster Relief and the second a seminar of SCO countries’ defence think tanks on the issue of armed forces contributing to military medicine, healthcare and pandemics.

Watch | India-China border standoff explained

“SCO pursues its policy based on the principles of sovereignty and territorial integrity of nations, non-interference in internal affairs, equality of all member States and mutual understanding and respect for opinions of each of them,” a Ministry statement added.

Since the stand-off began in May 2020, the two sides have so far held 18 rounds of talks with disengagement undertaken from both sides of Pangong Tso in February 2021, from Patrolling Point (PP) 17 in the Gogra-Hot Springs area in August and PP15 in early November, in addition to Galwan in 2020 after the violent clash. While India maintains that friction points at Demchok and Depsang remain, China has refused to accept them, terming them as legacy issues predating the 2020 standoff.

 

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Protesting wrestlers tarnishing country’s image: IOA chief PT Usha

 

On the day an ad-hoc committee took over wrestling administration, Indian Olympic Association president PT Usha said sportspersons “protesting on the streets” amounted to indiscipline and were tarnishing the image of the country. This came after Sports Minister Anurag Thakur had insisted that “Prime Minister Narendra Modiji’s govt has always stood with players” and “sports and athletes are their priority”.

Speaking to reporters after the IOA’s Executive Committee meeting that nominated Wushu Association of India president Bhupendra Singh Bajwa, former shooter Suma Shirur and a retired High Court judge to run the wrestling body and hold elections, Usha said: “The IOA has an athletes’ commission. Instead of going on the streets,they couldhave come tous. The wrestlers themselves suggested anad-hoc
committee and we have formed one.”

The IOA president said the protesting wrestlers should have approached the IOA before escalating the matter.

Vinesh Phogat's reaction to PT Usha's comments.
Video Credit: @AndrewAmsan pic.twitter.com/FwtNyrxyEz

— Express Sports (@IExpressSports) April 27, 2023

“They should have come to us. If they didn’t get a solution, they could have gone everywhere. Straightaway going to the streets is not good for sports. We don’t want any problems with our sportspersons. We want our athletes to participate in the Asian Games.

“This kind of agitation is not good for the country’s image and amounts to indiscipline. This negative publicity is not good for the country. We want to be with any athlete who has represented India, but under the rules, regulations and law ofthe land.”

Sports minister Thakur said the government has always stood with athletes. “We wanted an independent probe. Anyone who wanted to speak in front of the oversight committee, was given the chance to speak. There was no restriction. The time period of the probe increased because of them, we allowed that. There were 14 meetings of the oversight committee. Police has said it will do a preliminary enquiry before lodging FIR,” he said.

Bajrang Punia reacts to PT Usha's comments

Video: @AndrewAmsan pic.twitter.com/cUpx4uysFu

— Express Sports (@IExpressSports) April 27, 2023

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The statements made by the former sprint queen didn’t go well with the wrestlers protesting at Jantar Mantar. “I am extremely disappointed with PT Usha making such statements, being a woman and former athlete. It’s unfortunate that as a woman she is not able to understand the pain these women are undergoing,” Olympic medallist Bajrang Punia said.

‘Looked up to ma’am’ Rio Olympics medallist Sakshi Malik too sounded disappointed by Usha’s comments. “I have always looked upto to PT Usha ma’am and idolised her, but today I feel disappointed and let down by her statements. It is unfortunate that she couldn’t understand the feelings of fellow women athletes. As athletes, we don’t have an iota of indiscipline in our blood. We win medals and bring honour to the country only because we are disciplined,” she said.

World Championship medallist Vinesh Phogat said that instead of chastising the wrestlers, the IOA should have come to them to listen to their grievances. “We are not on the streets, we are on the soil of India. It is our democratic right to protest. If you feel it is “indiscipline” or insulting, why don’t come here and solve our problems?” she asked.

When asked about the findings of the committee to look into the allegations of sexual harassment levelled against Wrestling Federation of India president Brij Bhushan Sharan Singh, All India Football Federation president Kalyan Chaubey,who addressed the media alongwith Usha, said the investigation was still on.

“The ad-hoc committee has got a list of witnesses, who will be invited to depose before it,” he said.

Vinesh responded by saying that the list with the IOA would include those who Singh would want. “They didn’t talk to us all this while, before we sat in on our protest. Brij Bhushan’s people have been made witnesses. We also have witnesses, athletes and coaches, please make them witnesses too. We only trust the Supreme Court.”

Chaubey said the probe panel formed with boxing legend MC Mary Kom as its head was a “very good committee”. “It has very dependable and renowned individuals. If we canhave alittlepatience,because the seare very serious allegations…We cannot make any decisions in haste. We have to see what comes out ofthis committee.”

 

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