Pawan Khera Criticizes Government’s Response to China’s New Counties in Hotan Prefecture

Congress leader urges stronger action from PM Modi and MEA over China’s territorial claims and Brahmaputra dam project.

New Delhi, January 4: Congress leader Pawan Khera has criticized the Indian government’s “casual response” to China’s recent establishment of two new counties in Hotan Prefecture, which include areas traditionally claimed by India’s Union Territory of Ladakh.

Addressing the issue, Khera accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of giving a “clean chit” to China following the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes, which he believes has emboldened Beijing’s aggressive stance.

“The perfunctory objection raised by MEA is notwithstanding. China draws its confidence from the clean chit the PM gave on June 20, 2020, after the Chinese incursions in our territory. Now that China has created two counties in Hotan prefecture, an area historically and traditionally ours, we need more than just objections,” Khera told media.

The Congress leader emphasized that casual diplomacy won’t resolve the crisis, urging the Prime Minister to introspect and take decisive action instead of offering mere statements.

“This needs to be taken seriously, and casual objections by the EAM will not work. PM must introspect that he can’t go about distributing clean chits to neighbours hostile to our interests,” he said.

Khera also raised serious concerns over China’s dam project on the Brahmaputra River, warning that it poses significant risks to Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.

“The dam on the Brahmaputra River undermines and creates havoc for our interests in the northeastern region. This reflects very poorly on our foreign policy,” he added.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) had earlier expressed concerns about the dam project, urging China to ensure that downstream states remain unaffected.

During a weekly briefing, MEA Spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal reiterated India’s strong protest against China’s establishment of the two counties and emphasized that New Delhi has never accepted China’s “illegal occupation.”

“We have seen the announcement pertaining to the establishment of two new counties in Hotan Prefecture of China. Parts of the jurisdiction of these so-called counties fall in India’s Union Territory of Ladakh. We have never accepted the illegal Chinese occupation of Indian territory in this area,” Jaiswal said.

He added that the creation of new counties does not alter India’s stance on its territorial sovereignty and does not legitimize China’s forcible occupation of Indian land.

The recent developments, including China’s proposed dam project and administrative changes in Hotan, have added new dimensions to the ongoing India-China border tensions.