Congress Accuses Modi Govt of Silence on China Face-offs, Flags Border Security and Trade Risks

New Delhi, Oct 23 : Congress general secretary in-charge of communications Jairam Ramesh on Friday launched a fresh attack on the Narendra Modi government over its China policy, accusing it of maintaining silence on recent military face-offs in Arunachal Pradesh and alleging that its approach towards Beijing was compromising India's border security, economic interests and strategic autonomy.

In a post on social media platform X, Ramesh praised the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Director General's recognition of the force's performance during recent confrontations with the People's Liberation Army (PLA) in Arunachal Pradesh. However, he questioned why Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government had not publicly addressed the reported incidents and their implications for national security.

"While the self-styled Vishwaguru's calibrated concessions to China continue," Ramesh wrote, using a sarcastic reference to Modi to criticise the government's handling of relations with Beijing.

Referring to corps commander-level talks held at Wacha and Damai in Arunachal Pradesh last month following a face-off at Taksing, Ramesh claimed that local residents had reported the loss of patrolling points, drawing a parallel with developments in eastern Ladakh.

He also accused China of continuing to rename places in Arunachal Pradesh and constructing a 60,000-megawatt dam, which he alleged could pose a threat to India's ecological and water security.

The Congress leader argued that border concerns were closely linked to India's growing economic dependence on China. Citing trade figures, he claimed that the bilateral trade deficit had reached a record USD 112 billion in 2025-26, compared with USD 99 billion in the previous financial year.

He said the widening trade imbalance was adversely affecting micro, small and medium enterprises across several sectors and questioned the effectiveness of the government's flagship manufacturing initiative.

"Make in India has become Import from China," Ramesh charged, arguing that India's continued reliance on Chinese goods contradicted the government's manufacturing ambitions.

He maintained that the trade imbalance posed a serious challenge to India's economic security and said the government's China policy should be assessed not only on the basis of diplomatic engagements but also on its impact on domestic industries, strategic autonomy and national defence.

Ramesh also revisited the political controversy surrounding Modi's remarks on June 19, 2020, days after the deadly Galwan Valley clash in eastern Ladakh in which 20 Indian Army personnel were killed.

The Prime Minister had then said, "Na koi wahan hamari seema mein ghus aaya hai aur na hi koi ghusa hua hai, na hi hamari koi post kisi doosre ke kabze mein hai."

The Congress has repeatedly criticised the statement, with Ramesh describing it as an "infamous clean chit" to China. The remarks have remained a key point of contention between the government and the Opposition over the handling of the border crisis and the circumstances surrounding the Galwan confrontation.

The Congress leader also cited remarks attributed to former Army chief General M M Naravane, claiming that the retired officer had disclosed that the only instructions he received during the Ladakh crisis were, "Jo uchit samjho woh karo."

Ramesh invoked the statement to question the clarity of political leadership's directions to the military during a critical phase of the confrontation with China.

He further referred to a statement made on July 4, 2025, by then Deputy Chief of Army Staff Lieutenant General Rahul Singh regarding China's alleged extensive involvement in Pakistan's military campaign during Operation Sindoor. Ramesh said the account was subsequently publicly contradicted by former Chief of Defence Staff General Anil Chauhan on August 25, 2026.

He also drew attention to Chauhan's subsequent appointment to lead a think tank that Ramesh described as part of the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh-Bharatiya Janata Party ecosystem.

The latest criticism brings together several aspects of the Congress's opposition to the government's China policy, including reported military confrontations along the border, the political fallout from the Galwan clash, Chinese activities in Arunachal Pradesh and the widening trade deficit between the two countries.

The Opposition has consistently demanded greater transparency from the government regarding the border situation. The government, meanwhile, has continued its diplomatic and security engagement with Beijing while pursuing efforts to strengthen domestic manufacturing and reduce strategic vulnerabilities.

By linking reported military confrontations in Arunachal Pradesh with developments in Ladakh, Chinese infrastructure projects and India's trade dependence, Ramesh sought to portray the China issue as a broader test of the Modi government's national security and economic policies.

He alleged that India continued to face the consequences of its approach towards Beijing, while the government had failed to provide adequate public answers on the military and economic challenges confronting the country.