Expressing concern at Chinese troops recently stopping an Army patrol party near the LAC in Ladakh, former Uttarakhand chief minister B C Khanduri today asked the Centre whether it intended repeating the history of 1962 by not taking the matter seriously.
"Stopping of an Army's patrol party in Trade Junction area in the northern region of Ladakh, 14 km above the LAC, by Chinese troops who also showed them a banner saying, 'This is Chinese territory', is a matter of serious concern which calls for immediate initiatives.
"But by remaining inert on the issue, it seems the Centre is not serious about it," Khanduri, a former armyman himself, said in a statement here.
The Chinese troops made incursions into the Indian territory also in April when they pitched their tents 19 km into the LoC in Dipsang valley of Ladakh sector, Khanduri, who is also a BJP leader, said.
Alleging that Chinese troops had made incursions into Indian territory as many as 270 times in 2008, he said it was time the UPA government awoke to the seriousness of the situation and addressed the issue in right earnest.
"No effort is evident on part of the UPA to handle the situation with the seriousness it deserves. The 15th round of talks over border disputes between the two countries have been held but the outcome has been nil," Khanduri said.
"With no serious initiatives being taken by the UPA, it seems the Centre is preparing to repeat the history of 1962 when India lost a large number of its soldiers in a 32-day war with China," he said.
