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India alert for its security; all countries with us: Sushma

Kashmir Times. Dated: 7/20/2017 11:32:32 PM

‘China unilaterally trying to change status quo’

NEW DELHI, Jul 20(Agencies): Amidst ongoing border standoff at tri-juction near Doklam, Minister of External Affairs Sushma Swaraj today said, “All countries, including Bhutan, support India” on the issue.
India on Thursday accused China of unilaterally trying to change the status quo on the border with Bhutan and said this is what has sparked off the stand-off between the Indian and Chinese armies.
External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj told the Rajya Sabha that while China was saying that India should withdraw its troops from Doklam for negotiations to begin, "we are saying that if a dialogue is to be held, then both should withdraw (their troops)."
The Chinese action "is a challenge to our security", the Minister said in the first exhaustive Indian comment on the border row that began over a month ago in the Sikkim sector of the winding Sino-Indian frontier.
Sushma Swaraj said India was not doing anything unreasonable.
“Foreign countries are with us. They feel that China is being aggressive with a small country like Bhutan. Bhutan has protested, including in writing. All the countries feel India's stand is right and the law is with us."
Replying during Question Hour in the Rajya Sabha on questions pertaining to India-China-Bhutan border face-off, Sushma said, “China wants Indian troops to be withdrawn from the Doklam area while we have conveyed that both nations should remove their soldiers from there and then have talks on it. India remains alert for its security,” she assured the members.
When deputy leader of opposition Anand Sharma asked how many countries were supporting India’s stand on it, she said, “All countries are in our favour.”
The minister further elaborated as why standoff happened there saying, “From time to time, China was engaged in constructing ‘kacha road’ and sometimes ‘pukka road’ also. But they were confined to their area only. This time their intention was to unilaterally construct the road at Doklam, so India registered its protest and in fact, Bhutan also protested in writing.”