Asserting that there could be no compromises on national security, the Congress on Tuesday accused the Modi government of remaining a "mute spectator" to the Chinese transgressions into Indian territory at three points in Ladakh since April-May 2020.
"The Modi government has remained a mute spectator," the party said in a statement issued by its spokespersons Randeep Singh Surjewala after reports of the killing of three Indian personnel by the Chinese Army in the Galwan Valley area a day earlier.
"There can be no compromises on India's security and territorial integrity. Reports of Chinese Army moving thousands of troops in the Galwan Valley and Pangong Tso lake area (Ladakh) has shocked the entire nation as an audacious attempt on our territorial integrity," the statement added.
The Congress also questioned the government "silence" on the issue and echoed party senior leader AK Antony, a former Defence Minister, to demand that Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh come forward and tell the country about the stand-off with China.
"The two have repeatedly maintained an intriguing silence on the occupation of Indian territory by the Chinese since April-May 2020. The Congress demands that the PM now come forward to tell the nation as to how the government proposes to meet this challenging situation, which has serious ramifications for national security and territorial integrity," the Congress added.
"The Congress remains firm that the entire country stands as one to protect India's national security and territorial integrity at all costs. Let the Modi government remember that in our parliamentary democracy, secrecy or silence are unacceptable on part of our government," the party said.
The Congress said that not a single battle casualty among Indian soldiers had occurred on the India-China Line of Actual Control in the over four decades.
( With inputs from IANS )