Bipin Rawat questioned on India-China border standoff before parliamentary panel

Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat, on Friday, appeared before a parliamentary panel on defence and answered questions on the four-month-long
prevailing situation at the LAC (Line of Actual Control) between India and China.
The Parliamentary panel also demanded a proper presentation on the entire issue
from the government. The Parliamentary Standing Committee on Defence is chaired
by BJP leader Jual Oram.

According to a report in PTI, sources said some members
including Congress leader Rahul Gandhi raised questions about food served to
soldiers and issue related to the listed official agenda of the meeting of the
panel.

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The official agenda for the meeting was listed as ‘provision and
monitoring of the quality of ration and livery items’ to the Defence forces,
especially in border areas.

During the meeting, NCP supremo Sharad Pawar asked about recent
developments on the LAC and sought details and presentation on the situation at
LAC, the sources said.

Later, defence ministry representatives responded that these
questions have been noted down.

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Earlier, Pawar had told reporters that he will ask for a
presentation for the members of the panel on the situation at LAC in Ladakh.

Responding to Gandhi’s question, representatives of the army
said there is no difference in the quality or quantity of food served to
soldiers or officers. It is being served as per their tastes and food habits,
they said.

The Indian Army and the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA)
have been locked in a tense standoff in multiple areas along the LAC in eastern
Ladakh since early May. Shots were fired across the LAC on Monday for the first
time in 45 years with the two sides accusing each other of firing in the air.

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However, the two countries reached an agreement during talks
between External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and his Chinese counterpart Wang
Yi on Thursday evening for a five-point roadmap including quick disengagement
of troops and avoiding any action that could escalate tensions for resolving
the four-month-long face-off, while noting that the current situation at their
border is not in the interest of either side.