Parliament's monsoon session live updates: Govt afraid of facing questions on China border situation, says Congress

India has doubled the budget for vital roads and bridges along the undemarcated border with China in recent years in response to Beijing's rapid infrastructure development on its side, defence minister Rajnath Singh said on Tuesday. Singh told parliament that China had been building up its infrastructure in the remote mountains for decades and the government was trying to close the gap.

"This government did not allow us to speak in parliament. They are afraid that if Congress asks anything then they will not have any answers. When a resolution was passed on the India-China situation then PM Modi was absent. He is afraid of conducting a discussion in the parliament, " Congress MP Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury said.

The government on Tuesday declined the opposition's demand for discussion on the standoff between Indian and Chinese forces at the LAC in Ladakh. Sources said during the Business Advisory Committee (BAC) meeting of Lok Sabha, Congress leaders raised the demand for discussion on the recent standoff of Indian forces with the neighbouring country's troops in eastern Ladakh. Floor leaders of all parties attend the BAC meeting which decides the agenda for the House.

The data was provided in a written reply to the Rajya Sabha on Tuesday to a question on whether it is a fact that large scale investments have been made by Chinese agencies in Indian companies, specially the start-ups. The automobile industry, printing of books (including litho printing industry), electronics, services and electrical equipment received more than $100 million FDI each from China during the said period.

By imposing country-wide lock-down, India successfully blunted aggressive spread of COVID. Lockdown helped create additional health infrastructure. During this time, dedicated isolation beds went up by 22 times & dedicated ICU beds, above 14 times from what existed in March 2020. Testing capacity for COVID increased 10 times; limited indigenous manufacturing capacity for masks, PPEs, ventilators, etc. at the time of lockdown, was also enhanced to attain self-reliance. By slowing down Covid spread, 14–29 lakh cases & 37,000–78,000 deaths prevented.

"India and China border issue remain unresolved. Till now, there has been no mutually acceptable solution. China disagrees on the border (issue). China does not recognise the traditional and customary alignment of the boundary. We consider that this alignment is based on well established geographical principles," Singh said in Lok Sabha.

"A brave girl targeted by Maharashtra govt for bringing to light the issue of drug abuse," Sharma said. He thanked Himachal CM for ensuring security for Ranaut.