No force on Earth can stop Indian Army from patrolling in Ladakh: Rajnath Singh

New Delhi : Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday told the Parliament that 'no force on Earth can stop Indian Army from patrolling in Ladakh'. Replying to Opposition's query on Chinese soldiers stopping Indian soldiers from patrolling traditional posts, he said, "That is the reason for our ladai (fight) with China."

During his speech he also mentioned the word 'war', the first senior minister to do so in any context related to the standoff with China in eastern Ladakh. "Starting a war is in our hands but where that ends is not in our hands," he said.

''We are very different from before, still we are committed towards a peaceful resolution...I want to tell our 130 crore countrymen that we will not let the country down. Neither will we bow before anyone, nor is it our intention to make anyone bow before us," he added.

Congress' minister AK Antony asked him to give a clear picture on Chinese soldiers stopping Indian soldiers from patrolling. Rajnath Singh replied, "The patrolling pattern is traditional and well-defined. No power on earth can stop Indian soldiers from patrolling."

The Minister commented that what China said and what China did were very different. The Chinese engaged in provocative military manoeuvres on the night of 29th and 30th August while the two sides were engaged in diplomatic and military dialogue. Unki kathani aur karni alag hai (their words and actions are different)," he said.

The Defence Minister also mentioned that he cannot say anything more than that on the matter as it is a sensitive issue. "I hope the House will understand the sensitivity of the matter," he said.