India said that the government keeps a watch on all developments that concern the country’s security. Responding to questions on Chinese activities near Doklam along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said that the government will take all possible steps to ensure the security of the nation. Commenting on the crisis in Sri Lanka, Bagchi said that India will continue to stand with the people of Sri Lanka.
“The government keeps a constant watch on all developments having a bearing on India’s security and takes all necessary steps to safeguard the same. We will take all possible steps for the security of the nation,” Bagchi said.
Bagchi’s comments on China came after reports citing satellite images claimed that a Chinese village near the Doklam plateau was populated with vehicles parked outside homes, triggering concerns that China could be breaching the status quo along the Line of Actual Control.
Commenting on Sri Lanka, which has been witnessing a political turmoil in light of the economic crisis, Bagchi said that India is the country that has provided the maximum asstance to Sri Lanka at the time of need. “India has been at forefront of extending economic assistance to Sri Lanka as per what they require & we are one of the countries that have provided the maximum amount of assistance at the time of need. We will continue to stand by the people of Sri Lanka,” Bagchi said.
On a separate note, India’s High Commissioner to sri Lanka refuted claims of New Delhi helping former president Gotabaya Rajapaksa to exit the country and said that the rumours are ‘baseless’. “These rumours are completely baseless. Decision that then President Gotabaya Rajapaksa took was his own. We have nothing to do with that decision or its implementation,” he said.
During the routine press conference in the national capital, Bagchi also urged Pakistan to safeguard the religious places of minorities in that country.
