Amid standoff, PM calls on President

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, July 5

Prime Minister Narendra Modi today called on President Ram Nath Kovind to discuss issues of national and international importance. The announcement of the meeting was made on Twitter by Rashtrapati Bhavan. “Prime Minister @narendramodi called on President Kovind and briefed him on the issues of national and international importance at Rashtrapati Bhavan today,” the tweet said.

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The meeting comes against the backdrop of PM Modi’s visit to Leh and Nimu, where he addressed the soldiers. The PM also visited the field hospital to enquire about the well-being of soldiers injured in the bloody clash with Chinese troops on the night of June 15. While it’s a standard practice for the Prime Minister to call on the President periodically to apprise him of issues, this meeting assumes significance as it comes amid the India-China standoff at Ladakh, now on for two months. Besides the Galwan clashes, China continues to mobilise troops across the LAC with India too responding in a similar manner. The movement on either side remains even as the military commanders met on three occasions to work on a plan to de-escalate.

Last week, India banned 59 Chinese apps, including the popular TikTok, a move taken to hurt the Chinese in matters of economy. Also, the government is moving to stop the import of power equipment from China. Union Power Minister RK Singh made the announcement to this effect last week. As of March last year, India imported Chinese equipment worth Rs 21,000 crore.