Ladakh face-off LIVE: China's claim over Galwan Valley untenable, says MEA

Twenty Indian soldiers died in a violent clash with Chinese People's Liberation Army troops at Galwan Valley in Eastern Ladakh on Monday night. Catch latest updates

8:08 PM

Sunil Chhetri calls for deliberation across table in India-China stand-off

8:00 PM

India will take back every inch of its territory from China: Harish Rawat

Congress General Secretary and former Uttarakhand chief minister Harish Rawat on Wednesday said that India will take back every inch of its territory from China and not let the sacrifices of its troops go in vain.

 

"China has stabbed India from the back. 20 Indian army personnel lost their lives in the Galwan valley in Ladakh. We will not let the sacrifices of our brave soldiers go in vain. The entire country is standing firmly behind its armed forces," Rawat said. "Our enemies should know that in 1971, India had heralded the birth of a new nation on the map of the world. In 1965 and 1999, Indian forces had driven away Pakistan from its territory. They should know that India will take back every inch of its territory from China," he added.

 

At least 20 Indian Army personnel, including a Colonel, were killed in the violent face-off with the Chinese security forces in the intervening night of June 15 and 16.

7:42 PM

LIVE: Indian Army, Navy and Air Force put on high alert after Galwan Valley clash

Front-line bases of the Indian army and the air force along the nearly 3,500 km de-facto border with China were Wednesday put on high alert in view of the worst border clash between Indian and Chinese troops in Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh that left 20 Army personnel dead, official sources said.

 

The Indian Navy has also been asked to raise its alert level in the Indian Ocean Region where the Chinese Navy has been making regular forays. The decision to raise the alert level of the three forces were taken at a high-level meeting Defense Minister Rajnath Singh held with Chief of Defense Staff Gen Bipin Rawat and the three service chiefs, sources said.

The Army has already rushed in additional troops to all its key front-line bases and formations along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh, they said.

 

7:40 PM

We welcome all steps aimed at de-escalation at the Line of Actual Control: Ambassador of Russia to India

7:40 PM

Govt should give strategic as well as economic reply to China: Akhilesh Yadav

7:22 PM

Chinese foreign minister calls S Jaishankar; both leaders agree to 'cool down' tensions

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke to External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and the two leaders agreed to "cool down" tensions on the ground "as soon as possible" and maintain peace and tranquility in the border area in accordance with the agreement reached between the two countries, an official statement said.

 

The telephonic conversation between the two ministers came after 20 Indian Army personnel were killed in the clashes with Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley in eastern Ladakh on Monday night, the biggest military confrontation in over five decades that has significantly escalated the already volatile border standoff between the two countries.

 

During the telephonic conversation, Jaishankar conveyed to Wang India's protest in the strongest terms on the violent face-off and said the unprecedented development will have "serious impact" on bilateral ties. He asked the Chinese side to reassess its actions and take corrective steps, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement in New Delhi.

 

"The Chinese side took pre-meditated and planned action that was directly responsible for the resulting violence and casualties. It reflected an intent to change the facts on ground in violation of all our agreements to not change the status quo," Jaishankar told Wang.

 

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a statement that the two sides agreed to deal "fairly" with the serious events caused by the conflict in the Galwan Valley, jointly abide by the consensus reached at the military-level meetings between the two sides, "cool down the situation on the ground as soon as possible", and maintain peace and tranquility in the border area in accordance with the agreement reached so far between the two countries.

 

During the conversation, Wang said the two sides should follow the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries and strengthen the communication and coordination on the proper handling of the border situation through the existing channels so as to jointly maintain peace and tranquility in the border area, according to the statement.

7:18 PM

I bow to the exemplary courage and supreme sacrifice of our soldiers to protect country's sovereignty and integrity: President Ram Nath Kovind

7:17 PM

Sacrifices of our soldiers in Galwan will not go in vain: Indian Army

Indian Army said on Wednesday that sacrifices of its soldiers who laid down their lives in the violent face-off with China in Galwan valley will not go in vain.

 

In a strong message to China after the killing of at least 20 Indian soldiers in the violent face-off with Chinese troops, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that India wants peace but is capable of giving a befitting reply, if instigated.

 

At least 20 Indian Army personnel, including a Colonel rank officer, had lost their lives in the violent face-off in the Galwan valley area of Ladakh on June 15.

 

The violent face-off happened in Galwan valley as a result of an attempt by the Chinese troops to "unilaterally change" the status quo during de-escalation in Eastern Ladakh and the situation could have been avoided if the agreement at the higher level been scrupulously followed by the Chinese side, India said on June 16.

7:11 PM

Indian soldiers displayed exemplary courage: Adityanath on Galwan Valley clash

Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Wednesday said the Indian soldiers who lost their lives in a violent clash with the Chinese army in Ladakh's Galwan Valley displayed exemplary courage and their supreme sacrifice will always be remembered.

 

According to the Indian Army, 20 soldiers, including a Colonel, were killed in the clash on Monday night. In his condolence message, Adityanath said the supreme sacrifice of the soldiers, who displayed exemplary courage for the security of the nation and gave their lives, would always be remembered, according to a government release.

 

He also paid homage to Havidar Vipul Rai, a native of Meerut district, who was among the 20 soldiers killed in Monday's face-off.

7:09 PM

All those who laid down their lives in Galwan valley of Ladakh have upheld best traditions of Indian armed forces: President Kovind

7:08 PM

Salman Khan, Anil Kapoor, Kangana Ranaut, others pay tribute to soldiers martyred in Galwan face-off

Several Bollywood celebrities took to social media on Wednesday and paid tribute to the soldiers who were killed in violent face-off with Chinese troops in Ladakh's Galwan valley. Top celebrities including actors Salman Khan, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Anil Kapoor, and others paid homage to Army personnel who gave the supreme sacrifice for the nation. Megastar Salman Khan took to Twitter to mourn the demise of the brave hearts.

 

"My heart goes out to all brave hearts who hv laid down their lives at the Galwan valley. This sacrifice will not go to waste. I join their families in grief... #JaiHind #WeStandWithIndianArmy," tweeted Khan.

 

Senior actor Anil Kapoor also extended condolences to the families of the soldiers as he tweeted, " my heartfelt condolences to the families of our brave soldiers who lost their sons... The county owes you a great debt of gratitude."

 

'Queen' actor Kangana Ranaut's team shared a list of the 20 soldiers who lost their life in the face-off and tweeted her message for the bravehearts.

 

"We salute our bravehearts who sacrificed their lives in defense of our nation. Their supreme sacrifice in the line of duty at #Ladakh shall never ever be forgotten. We stand firmly with our armed forces. Jai Hind! #ChinaIndiaFaceoff #Saluteindianarmy," tweeted Kangana's team.

 

"We will forever be indebted to the invaluable service of our soldiers. #GalwanValley," tweeted Disha Patani.

 

Actor Kareena Kapoor Khan on the other hand, took to Instagram to post the condolence message.

 

"Condolences to the Bravehearts who lost their lives. Thank You for all the sacrifices," read Kareena's message.

 

Kartik Aaryan posted a picture of the Indian national flag on Instagram and wrote, "They do it for all of us. A big salute to all the brave men who show us what real sacrifice means."

 

"Thank you for protecting us. May the families of martyred heroes be blessed with immense strength. Jai Hind Jai Jawan," wrote Aaryan.

 

Twenty Indian soldiers were killed in the violent face-off, government sources Indian intercepts revealed that the Chinese side suffered 43 casualties including dead and seriously injured in the violent clash.

7:00 PM

Galwan Valley incident will have serious impact on bilateral ties: India tells China

In a strong message, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Wednesday told his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi that the unprecedented incident in Galwan Valley will have a serious impact on the bilateral relationship and asked China to take corrective steps. Jaishankar and Wang held a telephonic conversation in the wake of Monday night's violent clash between the two armies in Galwan Valley in which 20 Indian Army personnel including a Colonel were killed.

 

"The external affairs minister conveyed the protest of the government of India in the strongest terms on the violent face-off in Galwan Valley on June 15," the Ministry of External Affairs said.

 

It said Jaishankar referred to a meeting between senior military commanders of the two sides on June 6 where an agreement was reached on de-escalation and disengagement along the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Jaishankar conveyed to Wang that while there was some progress on the situation, the Chinese side sought to erect a structure in Galwan valley on the Indian side of the LAC.

 

"While this became a source of dispute, the Chinese side took pre-meditated and planned action that was directly responsible for the resulting violence and casualties," the MEA said giving details of the conversation.

 

Jaishankar conveyed that it reflected an intent to change the facts on ground in violation of all the agreements to not change the status quo.

 

"The External Affairs Minister underlined that this unprecedented development will have a serious impact on the bilateral relationship. The need of the hour was for the Chinese side to reassess its actions and take corrective steps," the MEA said. "The two sides should scrupulously and sincerely implement the understanding that was reached by the senior commanders on June 6," it said.

 

"Troops of both sides should also abide by the bilateral agreements and protocols. They should strictly respect and observe the Line of Actual Control and should not take any unilateral action to alter it," the MEA said.

 

In the talks, it was agreed that the overall situation would be handled in a responsible manner, and both sides would implement the disengagement understanding of June 6 sincerely, the MEA said.

6:58 PM

We are proud of our nation, we will fight this together: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee

We are proud of our nation, we will fight this together. We stand with the nation at this hour: West Bengal CM Mamata Banerjee on all party-meeting called by PM on June 19 over India-China face-off

6:39 PM

India will have to make reappraisal of foreign and defence policy towards China: Former Indian Ambassador

Former Indian Ambassador to China Gautam Bambawale on Wednesday said that in the wake of the violent clash between the Indian and Chinese troops in Galwan valley in Ladakh, India will have to make a reappraisal of its foreign and defence policy towards China.

 

"This is a very serious situation as for the first time in almost 35-40 years there have been deaths on both sides. I think this is a very serious situation. I think India will have to make a reappraisal of its policy to China and then we will have to implement a recalibrated policy, both foreign policy and defence policy, towards China," Bambawale told ANI.

 

"We must understand what has happened. From early May this year, what the Chinese PLA has been trying to do is it has been trying to occupy the ground position on the basis of what is their idea or perception of the LAC. We don't agree with their idea or the perception of the LAC and therefore Indian troops in early May of this year stopped the Chinese troops from advancing. There has been a standoff for so many weeks. And when there are troops from the two armies are in such close proximity to each other there is always the probability of it spiralling out of control. And unfortunately, that is what has happened on the night of June 15-16," he added.

 

Bambawale further said that the clashes happened when talks were on between the two sides.

6:28 PM

Punjab CM announces Rs 12 lakh ex-gratia for families of martyred soldiers in Galwan Valley clashes