BrahMos cruise missile deployment: Cong backs govt., taunts China

With China venting its ire over India's move to clear the deployment of a special version of the BrahMos cruise missile in the north-east, the Congress on Tuesday said these are the kind of mechanisms that the government must operate, adding this should also be applicable to Pakistan.

Congress leader Tom Vadakkan told ANI the Chinese are worried when your defences are up.

"And I think these are the kind of mechanisms that the Government of India must operate and this also should be applicable to Pakistan because when the neighbour comes to know that you are capable of hitting and at your time and your call, I think that sets the agenda," said Vadakkan.

"And I think that is lacking and that's what if we are doing is good, but if we are going to be scared by the Chinese or the Pakistanis, I think that would be a sad day," he added.

China has warned that such a move would have "a negative influence" on stability along the border.

Earlier this month, the Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, cleared the raising of a new regiment to be equipped with an advanced version of the BrahMos developed for mountain warfare at a cost of more than Rs. 4,300 crore.

The new regiment will be deployed in Arunachal Pradesh. There have been several standoffs between the Indian and Chinese troops along the Line of Actual Control in recent years.

Meanwhile, when asked to comment on the cases being registered against the Baloch leaders in Pakistan for supporting Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks, the Congress leader sarcastically said nothing more can be expected from an 'intolerant' Islamabad.

"This was anticipated and what do you expect from an intolerant Pakistan. This is in line with the thinking that this is existing in an intolerant state like Pakistan," he said.

Five cases, including that of sedition, have been registered against Baloch nationalist leaders in Pakistan for allegedly backing Prime Minister Modi's remarks on Balochistan in his Independence Day speech.

As per reports, Brahamdagh Bugti, Harbiyar Marri and Banuk Karima Baloch were booked under various Sections of the Pakistan Penal Code at five police stations in the Khuzdar area in the restive province following complaints lodged against them.

On India's Independence Day, Prime Minister Modi had said the people from areas like Pakistan-occupied Kashmir and Balochistan have thanked him for flagging the human rights abuses of their people by Pakistan's security forces.