Soon after walking out of the Lok Sabha following Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s statement on China, the Congress launched a concerted attack on the government with many of its leaders seeking to know ‘why the PM misled the nation.’

Singh’s statement came amid sharp Opposition criticism of the government over repeated transgressions by China’s People’s Liberation Army at Pangong Lake and several other areas in Ladakh along the LAC, the de facto border. The matter flared up in June when 20 Indian soldiers died in violent clashes between the armies of the two Asian giants.

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Addressing the Defence Minister, Congress spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala asked a series of questions in his tweet. “Respected Rajnath Singhji, the country stands with the soldiers but do tell us how did China dare to encroach upon our land? Why did Modiji mislead the nation by saying there was no intrusion by China? When will you throw out the Chinese forces? When will they be shown their place?” the Congress leader asked.

Shashi Tharoor, senior Congress leader and lawmaker from Kerala, also demanded to know why the Prime Minister had allegedly misled the nation.

“Since the Defence Minister excoriated China for transgressing the LAC, could the Govt explain why the Prime Minister had issued an extraordinary statement claiming that China had not entered our territory? Presumably the Government has changed the PM’s stand?” the lawmaker from Thiruvananthapuram said while adding that the nation “stands united behind our soldiers.”

Earlier in his statement in Lok Sabha, Rajnath Singh said India is committed to a peaceful resolution of the current border stand-off with China in Ladakh but any attempt to unilaterally alter the status quo by the neighbouring country is unacceptable.

The defence minister said since April, buildup of troops and armaments by the Chinese side has been witnessed in the border areas adjacent to eastern Ladakh.

He said in early May, the Chinese side had taken action to hinder the normal, traditional patrolling pattern of Indian troops in the Galwan Valley area, which resulted in a face-off. The Galwan Valley face-off left 20 Indian soldiers dead.

“We made it clear to the Chinese side both through diplomatic and military channels that China was, by such actions, attempting to unilaterally alter the status quo. It was categorically conveyed that this was unacceptable,” he said.

After Singh’s statement, the Congress wanted to raise certain issues which was not allowed by Speaker Om Birla. Unhappy with this, Congress walked out of the House.