Congress veteran Sam Pitroda suggested that India should stop viewing China as an enemy. Shiv Sena (UBT) leader Priyanka Chaturvedi strongly disagreed. She said that if there are indeed differences with China, the government’s lack of seriousness on the issue is troubling. Congress General Secretary Jairam Ramesh clarified that the views expressed bypitroda do not represent the position of the Congress party. He also raised several questions in the letter regarding military patrols in key areas like Demchok in Ladakh, urging the government to clarify its position on these sensitive issues. He added that Indian patrols had been able to operate in the region unhindered until May 2020, and many believe that the Government of India should insist on restoring the status quo before that date. He further criticised the Modi government for increasing India’s dependence on China, with Chinese exports to India rising from $70 billion in 2018-19 to a record $102 billion in 2023-24. He expressed concern that this trend could continue into 2024-25.
