PM Modi needs to propose steps, assure country on China: Congress

Hours after External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj said in Rajya Sabha that India is alert in terms of security as far as China is concerned, the Congress on Thursday said it would like the nation to know what the Centre and Prime Minister Narendra Modi propose to do regarding the situation.

Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala expressed concerns over the Chinese media making belligerent statements about an imminent war-like situation, saying that Prime Minister Modi must come forward and assure the entire country and a proper discussion should take place in the Parliament.

"Is it not true that China is collecting military hardware as also its military personnel on our borders as the situation aggravates? Is it also not true that the Chinese media and newspapers are making belligerent statements about an imminent war-like situation? What are the steps that the Government has taken and what is that the Prime Minister proposes to do?" Surjewala told ANI.

Surjewala further said that the country should be assured when it comes to national security.

"This is a serious situation and must be taken seriously. The Prime Minister must come forward and assure the entire country. Let there be a discussion in the Parliament. Let every member's concern be expressed and let the country be assured that there is no way that our national security would be compromised," he said.

Taking a dig at Sushma over her remarks in the Parliament today, Surjewala said the former after having made a similar statement that there will be no talks with Pakistan unless terrorist Lakhvi is handed over to India, she discarded it.

Earlier today, Sushma said that all the countries, including Bhutan, are with India on the issue of the Doklam stand-off.

Sushma's response came after Samajwadi Party leader Naresh Agarwal's questioned the Centre on the Doklam stand-off.

Sushma said the issue is due to the "tri-junction point that is between India, China and Bhutan" and that if Beijing unilaterally tries to change the status quo at the tri-junction, then it will pose a threat to New Delhi's security.

"India wants that troops are removed from the tri-junction point to discuss the issue together. All countries, including Bhutan, are with us," Sushma said in Rajya Sabha on the fourth day of the Parliament Monsoon Session.

Congress' Chattisgarh MP Chhaya Sharma raked up the issue of presence of China on the South China sea, to which Sushma countered saying there is no threat to India from Beijing as she "cannot say China is encircling New Delhi in terms of sea presence."

On the 'One Belt One Road' issue, the External Affairs Minister said that India had opposed the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor's (CPEC) inclusion in the OBOR at the time it was proposed.

India and China have been witness to the stand=off for long over the tri-junction area of Doklam sector near Bhutan.

The stand-off emerged after the China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) construction party attempted to build a road near the Doklam area.

Bhutan recognises Doklam as its area while China claims it as part of its Donglang region. Doka La is the Indian name for the region.

-ANI