China issue: PM Modi calls for an all-party meeting

A day after the news of the martyrdom of 20 Indian soldiers came to light, Narendra Modi has called for an all-party meeting on June 19.  “In order to discuss the situation in the India-China border areas, Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called for an all-party meeting at 5 PM on 19th June. Presidents of various political parties would take part in this virtual meeting,” the Prime Minister’s Office said on Wednesday.

This comes hours after Congress leader Rahul Gandhi tweeted asking, “Where is the PM hiding?”  He tweeted, “Why is the PM silent?  Why is he hiding? Enough is enough. We need to know what has happened. How dare China kill our soldiers? How dare they take our land?”

The all-party meeting is seemingly meant to build a consensus on China.  There are reports that China’s PLA has not disengaged at the LAC.  The Galwan Valley is on a “war mode”, reports say. There are speculations that the Modi government may go for a war with China.

The Congress party’s presence in the all-party meeting will be keenly watched.  Its statements before and after the meeting will be analyzed widely.