India-China Patrolling Deal: Restoring Peace Along the LAC?

India and China formalized a patrolling agreement along the LAC in eastern Ladakh. The Congress party demands transparency from the government and hopes for restoration of the status quo as of March 2020. Concerns are raised about troop accessibility to certain points and the rights of Indian graziers.

India and China have finalized a pivotal agreement concerning military patrolling along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh. The Congress party, ahead of a bilateral talk between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Jinping, calls for transparency regarding the agreement's terms and implications.

Jairam Ramesh, Congress' general secretary, expressed anticipation that the deal would restore the situation to its pre-2020 state, noting lingering questions about troop and grazer access in contested areas. The opposition accuses the Modi government of mishandling the situation due to misconceptions about China, demanding clarity on several critical issues.

Particular attention is on whether the agreement allows Indian troops to patrol up to previously accessed points and permits graziers to traditional grounds. Ramesh emphasizes the need for public assurance that these areas will not remain restricted, challenging if concessions were made unjustly.

(With inputs from agencies.)