Congress Renews Call for Parliamentary Debate on China Relations Ahead of Monsoon Session

New Delhi: The Indian National Congress has once again pressed for a full-fledged discussion in Parliament on India-China relations, urging the Centre to allow an open debate to forge national consensus on the country’s strategic response to China’s increasing geopolitical and military assertiveness—both directly and through its close ties with Pakistan.

In a sharp statement on Friday, Congress general secretary (communications) Jairam Ramesh said that the time has come for the Modi government to “end its silence and secrecy” on critical issues of national security and foreign policy. He cited recent comments by Lieutenant General Rahul R Singh, Deputy Chief of Army Staff (Capability Development and Sustenance), who publicly confirmed that China has been extending significant military assistance to the Pakistan Air Force.

“These revelations are significant. Lt Gen Singh has spoken of the extraordinary ways in which China has aided Pakistan militarily,” Ramesh said in a post on X. “This is the same China that unilaterally altered the status quo in Ladakh five years ago — a fact that Prime Minister Modi contradicted in his infamous June 19, 2020 statement giving Beijing a public clean chit.”

The Congress has long criticized the Modi government’s handling of the border standoff in eastern Ladakh, where Indian and Chinese troops have remained locked in a military standoff since 2020. The party has also questioned the lack of transparency in diplomatic talks and disengagement efforts.

Ramesh added that the Congress will renew its demand for a structured debate on the issue during the upcoming Monsoon Session of Parliament, beginning July 21. “For five years, the government has evaded accountability on China. Parliament must be taken into confidence, and a collective strategy must be shaped,” he said.

In response, the BJP hit back, accusing the Congress of undermining India’s national interest. BJP IT cell head Amit Malviya said, “If China is using Pakistan as a testing ground for its weapons, that’s a serious concern. But the Congress, instead of standing with the nation, continues to promote narratives that weaken India’s position on the global stage.”

He added that national security should be above politics and claimed the Congress’s repeated questioning of the government’s approach to China only emboldens adversaries.