NE NEWS SERVICE
LEH, JULY 17
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh arrived in Leh on Friday on a day-long visit to carry out a comprehensive review of the security scenario in the region in wake of the border row with China, a Defence release said.
RM @rajnathsingh participates in para dropping and other military exercise at Stakna along with the troops pic.twitter.com/I6RfvOqo2I
— DD News (@DDNewslive) July 17, 2020
Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat and Army chief Gen M M Naravane are accompanying Singh on the visit.
Singh is set to visit Stakna and Lukung forward areas.
Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsingh witnessing para dropping and scoping weapons at Stankna near Leh. pic.twitter.com/2vwvjotI7q
— रक्षा मंत्री कार्यालय/ RMO India (@DefenceMinIndia) July 17, 2020
His trip comes days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s surprise visit to Ladakh on July 3 during which he also addressed troops and signalled the country’s firmness in dealing with the India-China border row.
Singh was originally scheduled to visit Ladakh on July 3 but the trip was deferred.
This is the Defence Minister’s first visit to Ladakh since the faceoff with China commenced. Rajnath Singh is likely to visit Atal Tunnel, previously known as Rohtang Tunnel, named after former Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee.
This is a highway tunnel being built under the Rohtang Pass in the eastern Pir Panjal Range of the Himalayas on the Leh-Manali Highway.
Indian and Chinese troops were locked in a bitter standoff in multiple locations in eastern Ladakh for over eight weeks since May 5.
The tension escalated manifold after the violent clashes in Galwan Valley in which 20 Indian Army personnel were killed.
However, following a series of diplomatic and military talks, the two sides began a mutual disengagement process on July 6 and withdrew troops from most of the friction points.
