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When asking questions is anti-national, this is what happens: Omar on India-China skirmish

PM, RM should give clear picture to nation: Devegowda

AGENCIES | JAMMU/NEW DELHI

National Conference leader Omar Abdullah on Tuesday said if the Chinese can "shoot dead" three Indian soldiers during the 'de-escalation process', one can imagine how serious the situation must have been in the first place. Earlier in the day, the Indian Army said an officer and two soldiers were killed in a violent confrontation with Chinese troops in eastern Ladakh's Galwan Valley on Monday.
According to official sources, there was no firing between the two sides. "If the Chinese shoot dead an Indian army colonel and two jawans during a 'de-escalation process' imagine how escalated the situation must be in the first place," Abdullah said in a tweet. "This is what happens when the media propagates the government line that asking questions is anti-national," he added.
When pointed out by a Twitter user that there was no firing at Galwan Valley, the National Conference leader said, "So they were beaten to death? That's even more horrific." The Army said there were casualties on the Chinese side as well but the extent of it was not immediately clear.
A large number of Indian and Chinese troops were engaged in an eyeball-to-eyeball situation in Galwan Valley and certain other areas of eastern Ladakh for the last five weeks. The incident comes days after Indian Army Chief Gen MM Naravane said both sides have begun disengaging from the Galwan Valley.
Meanwhile, former Prime Minister HD Devegowda called the reports coming in from Galwan Valley "disturbing".
"Why did our soldiers lose their lives during a de-escalation process? In national interest, the PM and RM should offer a clearer picture to the nation on the border issue with the Chinese," Devegowda said in a tweet.
Punjab Chief Minister Capt. Amarinder Singh, meanwhile, said that India's soldiers are "not fair game that every few days officers and men are being killed and injured defending our borders".
"The happening in the Galwan Valley is a continuation of violations by China. It is time now that the country stands up to these incursions. Our soldiers are not fair game that every few days officers and men are being killed and injured defending our borders," the Punjab CM tweeted.
"It is time now for the Govt of India to take some stringent measures. Each sign of weakness on our part makes the Chinese reaction more belligerent. I join the nation in paying tribute to our brave martyrs. The nation stands with you in your hour of grief," Singh added.
Congress member and Leader of Opposition (LoP) in Lok Sabha, Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury, meanwhile, called the Chinese aggression "unscrupulous".
"Our Army Jawans including Colonel have been fallen victims to unscrupulous Chinese aggression. @PMOIndia we need befitting retaliation, retaliation, retaliation! I pay my homage to the brave souls who have laid down their precious lives for the sake of Our Motherland," Chowdhury said.
Senior Congress leader Jaiveer Shergill, meanwhile, said China "must be sent a strong message registering India's protest and anguish".