Government forgot the martyrs of Galwan Valley, Modi bowed under American pressure? Congress raises questions on India-China’s new friendship

Two of the most populous countries in the world – which have two largest military powers in the world – had been face to face for weeks on their long and disputed height border. Starting on 5 May 2020, Chinese and Indian soldiers had aggressive scuffle, infectly and clashes at several places along the China-India border, near the border, near the disputed Pangong Lake in Ladakh and Tibet Autonomous region and between Sikkim and Tibet Autonomous Region. There were also clashes at many places on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.

In late May, the Chinese Army objected to the construction of the Indian road in the Galwan River Valley. According to Indian sources, Chinese and Indian soldiers died in a scuffle that took place on 15–16 June 2020. Media reports stated that soldiers from both sides were taken captive and released in the next few days, while official sources from both sides denied it. On September 7, for the first time in 45 years, bullets were fired on LAC, the two sides convicted each other for firing. Indian media also reported that Indian soldiers fired bullets on PLA on 30 August.

 

Now about 7 years later, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Tianjin on 31 August. This is his first visit to China after the 2020 Galwan conflict, 2020–2021 China-India clashes made bilateral relations seriously tense. The meeting is seen as an attempt to re -establish the relationship between the two Asian giants, who are sometimes confused with the conversation and sometimes conflict. Now after meeting Xi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has invited Chinese President Xi Jinping to come to India during the BRICS summit in 2026. Xi Jinping thanked him for the invitation and offered New Delhi to give his full support for its chairmanship. The Ministry of External Affairs gave this information after a meeting between the two leaders during the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) summit in Tianjin on Sunday.

 

 

An important question about the upcoming talks is- can any new dimension be added to Tianjin? This meeting reflects the complex history of Modi-shee relations, which includes civilized engagement to military conflict, as the two countries are looking for a way to move forward. Has the Modi government forgot what has happened in the Galwan Valley?

After meeting on Sunday between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Chinese President Xi Chinfing, the Congress, while targeting the Center, questioned whether the “New Normal” (new general status) should be defined with China’s aggression and “the government’s cowardice”. The Congress questioned whether the central government led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to emphasize the reconciliation with China is actually legalizing its regional aggression. Modi said in his meeting with Chinese President Xi Chinfing in Tianjin that India is committed to pursue its relations with China on the basis of mutual trust, respect and sensitivity.

Congress General Secretary and Communications in-charge Jairam Ramesh wrote on the social media forum ‘X’, “Today the meeting between Prime Minister Modi and Chinese President Xi Chinfing should be assessed in the following contexts- In June 2020, due to Chinese aggression in the Galwan Valley, our 20 most brave soldiers sacrificed their lives. Despite this, on 19 June 2020, Prime Minister Modi gave China a useful (notorious) clean chit to China. ”He said that the army chief had demanded complete restoration of status quo along the border with China in Ladakh. Ramesh said, “But despite failing to achieve this, the Modi government took steps towards reconciliation with China, which gave indirect validity to China’s aggression in the region.”

He said that on July 4, 2025, Deputy Army Chief Lieutenant General Rahul Singh spoke strongly and clearly on China’s ‘Jugalbandi’ with Pakistan during Operation Sindoor. Ramesh said, “But instead of giving a concrete response to this inauspicious alliance, the Modi government accepted it silently and is now rewarding China for state tours.” He said that China has announced a huge hydroelectric project on Yarlung Tsangpo which “will have very serious effects on our north-east states but not a word on this issue was not spoken by the Modi government.

Ramesh claimed that uncontrolled ‘dumping’ of imports from China continues, which has severely affected our MSME (micro, small, medium enterprise) units. ‘Dumping’ means exporting a product to another country at a less than a normal price by the manufacturer which causes damage to that country. Ramesh said, “Instead of taking strict steps like other countries, India has given almost open exemption to Chinese importers.