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Random Sampling For Covid-19 Of Intl Passengers Started

By LokMarg 21st December 2022

A sudden surge in COVID-19 cases in the United States, China, Brazil and South Korea has prompted the Union Health Ministry to review the pandemic situation in India and as per the precautionary measure the government has restarted random sampling of international passengers at airports across the country for Covid from today.
Sources told ANI, “Random sampling of international passengers for Covid19 has started at airports in the country from today.”

“There are currently 10 different variants of Covid-19 in the country, with the latest variant being BF.7. At present various variants of Omicron are spreading in the country and Delta variant can still be seen in the country,” said the sources.

Earlier in the day, Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya also conducted a high-level meeting to review the COVID-19 situation in India and the preparedness of the public health system for surveillance, containment and management of COVID-19 in view of the recent spike in cases of COVID-19 in some countries along with Dr Bharati Pravin Pawar, Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare.

Dr V K Paul, Member (Health), NITI Aayog, senior officials and public health experts were present.

“The Union Health Minister was briefed on the global COVID-19 situation and the domestic scenario. Underlining the challenge posed by the increasing number of COVID-19 cases in some countries across the world such as China, Japan, South Korea, France and the United States, Union Health Minister noted the importance of being prepared and remaining alert against new and emerging strains of COVID-19, especially in view of the upcoming festive season,” reads the statement issued by the Health Ministry after the meeting.

Mandaviya also said that Covid-19 is not yet over and directed officials to be alert and strengthen surveillance amid a surge in coronavirus cases globally.

He urged people to follow COVID appropriate behaviour and get vaccinated against COVID.

“The surveillance system for whole genome sequencing of positive case samples will track the variants through Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) network to ensure timely detection of newer variants, if any, circulating in the country. This would facilitate the undertaking of appropriate public health measures. States/UTs have been requested to send samples of all COVID-19 positive cases to INSACOG Genome Sequencing Laboratories (IGSLs) on a daily basis, for sequencing, to track new variants, if any,” he said.

“In a presentation, the Union Health Minister was briefed that India has been witnessing a steady decline in cases with average daily cases falling to 158 in the week ending December 19, 2022. However, a consistent rise in global daily average cases has been reported since the last six weeks, with 5.9 lakh daily average cases reported in the week ending December 19, 2022. A new and highly transmissible BF.7 strain of the Omicron variant has been found to be behind a wider surge of COVID infections in China,” the ministry said in a statement.

Present in the meeting, Dr VK Paul, Member, Niti Aayog said, “Only 27-28 per cent of people have taken precaution dose. We appeal to others, especially senior citizens, to take the precautionary dose. Precaution dose is mandated and guided to everyone.”

“Use a mask if you are in a crowded space, indoors or outdoors. This is all the more important for people with comorbidities or those of higher age,” Dr Paul added.

In the meeting, other Senior Officials present were Rajesh Bhushan, Secretary, Union Health Ministry, Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Advisor, Dr RS Gokhale, Secretary, Department of Biotechnology, Rajesh Kotecha, Secretary, AYUSH, Dr Rajiv Bahl, Secretary, Department of Health Research, Dr Atul Goel, DGHS, Sh. Lav Agarwal, Additional Secretary, MoHFW and Dr N K Arora, Chairman of the COVID Working Group, National Technical Advisory Group on Immunisation (NTAGI). (ANI)

COVID Cases Surpass 100MN: Johns Hopkins Univ, US

By LokMarg 21st December 2022

COVID cases in the US surpassed 100 million on Wednesday. The total COVID cases in the US now stand at 100,007,330, according to the Johns Hopkins University website. About 1,586,844 cases were reported in the US over a 28-day period.

The total number of deaths in the US stands at 1,088,280 and about 649,501,939 vaccine doses have been administered so far.
The total COVID cases worldwide stand at 654,736,907. Cases reported over 28 days stand at 15,131,943. So far, 6,670,257 people across the globe, have died due to COVID, and globally, 13,112,820,813 vaccine doses have been administered so far

The total COVID cases in China stand at 4,293,671 with 917,308 cases reported over a 28-day period. The total death toll in China stands at 16,539, according to the Johns Hopkins University website.

The total number of COVID cases in Japan stands at 27,603,549. Total cases in France, Australia, Russia, and the UK stand at 39,174,528, 10,983,380, 21,428,388, and 24,318,154 respectively.

A recent report by Voices Against Autocracy said that Chinese citizens have been left to fend for themselves after the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) amid widespread protests against the government’s zero-COVID policy, suddenly lifted its stringent COVID regulations.

The report also said that: “Continued inaction by the CCP and turning a blind eye to the people’s suffering might again push people to the streets to get what is due to them.”

COVID has been rapidly spreading in China. Informal reports show that about 40 percent of Beijing’s residents are currently infected with COVID. The CCP has, however, changed its agenda to project COVID as the mere flu.

According to The Hong Kong Post, it is certain that the Chinese government was “under-prepared” as it decided to end its zero-COVID policy abruptly after people held protests across the country.

The Chinese government has so far remained silent on the number of deaths. However, the Chinese authorities have warned of successive waves of COVID infections in the coming months, as cases continue to rise after the lifting of restrictions earlier this month. (ANI)

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Rising COVID Cases In China Is Concerning: Poonawala

By LokMarg 21st December 2022

Raising concern on the rising COVID-19 cases in neighboring China, Serum Institute of India (SII) CEO Adar Poonawala on Wednesday asked the people not to panic because of India’s “excellent vaccination coverage and track record”.

He, also at the same time, urged the people to adhere to the guidelines set by the Government of India and the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
“The news of rising COVID cases coming out of China is concerning, we need not panic given our excellent vaccination coverage and track record. We must continue to trust and follow the guidelines set by the Government of India and @MoHFW_INDIA,” tweeted Adar Poonawala.

Adar Poonawala is the CEO of Serum Institute of India which manufactures the Covishield COVID-19 vaccine.

According to Hong Kong Post, people in China are reporting countless cases of COVID-19 around them, despite the official count being around 2,000 a day.

Expressing concern over the spurt in Covid-19 cases in China, former Indian diplomat KP Fabian on Tuesday said, “over 60 percent of China and 10 percent of the world population is likely to be infected with Covid and millions may die.”

Speaking on China expecting a massive surge in coronavirus cases, he said, “There are some reports. What will you say about China? Well, when you speak of 10 pc of the world population, which is about 8 billion, which means 10 pc is 800 million, which is a very big number. Now of course I don’t have the expertise to say whether it is right or wrong, I don’t want to say that. But it seems that with China’s method of fighting Covid, something has gone wrong with it. Seriously, their vaccine is not that good and they refuse to get the better vaccine or to improve their own vaccine, though something has been done, but not enough.”

In view of the recent rising cases of COVID-19 in some countries, the Union Health Ministry on Tuesday requested States and Union Territories to send samples of all COVID-19-positive cases to INSACOG labs to track new variants, if any.

The Health Ministry and INSACOG are keeping a sharp watch on the situation.

“In view of the sudden spurt of cases being witnessed in Japan, the United States of America, the Republic of Korea, Brazil, and China, it is essential to gear up the whole genome sequencing of positive cases samples to track the variants through SARS-CoV-2 Genome Consortium Network (INSACOG) network,” Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan said in a letter addressed to the States and Union Territories on Tuesday.”

All states are requested to ensure that as far as possible samples of all positive cases, on a daily basis, are sent to the designated INSACOG Genome Sequencing Laboratories (IGSLs) that are mapped to the States and UTs,” said Union Health Secretary.

“Such an exercise will enable the timely detection of new variants. If any, circulating in the country and will facilitate the undertaking of requisite public health measures for the same,” added Bhushan.

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will hold a meeting with senior officials and experts on the COVID-19 situation in the country on Wednesday. (ANI)

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Mandaviya To Hold Meet On COVID-19 Situation

By LokMarg 20th December 2022

Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya will hold a meeting with senior officials and experts on the COVID-19 situation in the country on Wednesday, said sources on Tuesday.

The physical meeting will start at 11:30, sources told ANI. He will also review meetings on Covid 19 situations in other countries.
ln view of the sudden spurt of cases being witnessed in Japan, USA, Korea, Brazil, and China, it is essential to gear up whole genome sequencing of positive case samples to track variants through the Indian SARS-CoV-2 Genomics Consortium (INSACOG) network, writes Union Health Secretary Rajesh Bhushan to States and Union Territories.

“All states are requested to ensure that as far as possible samples of all positive cases, on a daily basis, are sent to the designated INSACOG Genome Sequencing Laboratories (IGSLs) that are mapped to the States and UTs,” said Union Health Secretary.

Amid the rising COVID cases in China, a top Indian health expert on Tuesday cautioned the people while asking them to keep a close vigil on the situation in the country.

However, the expert said that there is nothing to panic about as the country’s system is “vigilant”.

The remarks were made by Dr. NK Arora, Chairman of the COVID-19 working group NTAGI.

“It is an important thing that we keep a close vigil on the Chinese situation. But I would say that there is nothing to be panicked about. There is no need for getting too much worried. The system is very vigilant, we need to be very vigilant. As far as genomic surveillance is concerned, this is the most important part we are doing genomic surveillance of individuals with symptoms,” he said.

Exuding confidence in India’s preparedness to tackle the COVID situation, the expert said that the country can take appropriate action in case of the emergence of a new sub-variant.

“We are also doing surveillance from sewage and from hospitalized individuals and even those who are coming to international airports. A certain proportion of samples is picked up randomly from them also, in case there is a new sub-variant or anything, which is of concern is picked up promptly, appropriate action can be taken,” Dr. Arora said.

“So overall we find that the situation in India is under control. But we need to maintain vigilance, particularly for surveillance,” he added.

Dr. Arora also said that the exact situation of COVID in China is still unclear.

“China was following so-called Zero COVID policies and as we learn from media recently they have relaxed this policy and after that, we are hearing that there is widespread COVID infection in that community with associated severe disease and deaths also. But what is the exact situation we really do not know,” he said.

According to the expert, vaccination and hybrid immunity will be helpful in protecting people in India from COVID.

“As far as India is concerned, there are three or four things which we need to keep in mind. One is that India has an extensively immunized adult population, particularly with very effective vaccines. In addition, there are several data that indicate that over 90 percent of our individuals have also been affected by natural COVID infection. So, the Indian population is immunized with what we call hybrid immunity. Third thing is that the INSACOG data shows that almost every sub-variant of Omicron which is found anywhere else in the world is also found in India. So, there are not many sub-variants that are not circulating here,” an expert said.

Meanwhile, the last Covid-19 fatality in Beijing, which was seeing thousands of Covid positive cases before the revocation of the Zero Covid policy was on November 23.

After it, China stopped reporting asymptomatic patients which is a major part of the Covid tally. The country also scrapped the once common Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) testing apparatus and instead used rapid antigen kits which are known to be a little inaccurate. This pointed out that the data was altered or stood meaningless, according to The Straits Times. (ANI)

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China’s Strict Covid Lockdowns Affecting Mental Health

By LokMarg 19th December 2022

The lockdowns imposed by the Chinese government for controlling Covid-19 is proving dangerous for its own citizens, and millions of citizens are suffering from critical mental health issues, Geopolitica.info a study center on geopolitics and international relations reported.

After the nationwide protests led by students and youth of China, the country has relaxed the lockdown in some places still there are places that suffer harsh Covid restrictions. Geopolitica reported quoting a World Health Organisation report that 54 million people in China experience depression and about 41 million suffer from anxiety disorders because of Covid measures.
Wuhan, the city where Covid-19 was first detected has observed a 79 percent hike in suicides during the first quarter compared to the previous year. In a survey, more than 40 percent of people were found at risk of mental depression after the imposition of the lockdowns in the city in April this year Geopolitica quoted a report from The Economist.

Even the internet searches related to mental health, done by people on Baidu, a Chinese search engine had risen by 253 percent Geopolitica said citing The Economist report. The issues cannot also be addressed by the medical facilities available in the country. According to Geopolitica, the total number of certified psychiatrists in China is more than 40,000, indicating less than 3 psychiatrists per 100,000 population. And most of these psychiatrists work in the developed eastern coastal region of China, leaving the treatment gap for mental disorders in the country’s western and central areas.

However, the Chinese authorities give a totally different counterargument for the harsh Covid restrictions. They pointed out the low pandemic-related death numbers because just 15986 people died because of Covid infections compared to the 6.6 million people worldwide. Although, according to estimates by the Japanese investment bank Nomura, about 412 million people had to suffer some kind of lockdown in China by the November end. That is almost one-third of the Chinese population.

All the lockdowns not only affected the mental health of the people but also limited their access to healthcare and food in cities like Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Wuhan where authorities doubled down their efforts to curb Covid spread by sealing up buildings and locking down areas, according to Geopolitica.

During the lockdowns in Shanghai, many schoolchildren were not allowed to go home. Even 15-year-old children were forced to isolate themselves at hotels. They did have anyone to take care of them and they did not have anyone to talk to making them get struck with extreme isolation. Geopolitical quoted a report from Current Psychology, a US journal, around 20% of Chinese junior and senior high school students in lockdowns experienced suicidal ideation. And Fudan University survey of around 4,500 young people conducted earlier this year showed that some 70% of students expressed varying degrees of anxiety. (ANI)

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It’s Not 1962: Tawang Monastery Monks Warn China After Recent Face-Off

By LokMarg 19th December 2022

Following the Yangtse skirmish between the Indian and Chinese soldiers along the Line of Actual Control in the Tawang sector, the monks of the famous Tawang Monastery have warned China that, “it’s not 1962, it’s 2022” and “it is PM Narendra Modi government” at the helm.

“Prime Minister Narendra Modi will not spare anyone. We support the Modi government and Indian army,” Lama Yeshi Khawo – a Monk of Tawang Monastery said voicing the concerns of all those present at the 17th-century monastery that has also witnessed the 1962 clash between the Asian giants.

Yesi Khawo said that the Chinese government always “goes after” other countries’ territories and it’s totally wrong.

“They also eye Indian land. The Chinese government is wrong. If they want peace in the world, then they shouldn’t do this. If they actually want peace, then they shouldn’t harm anyone,” Khawo said.

He also said that they have full trust in the present Indian government and the Indian Army, who will keep Tawang secure.

“During the 1962 war, the monks of this monastery helped the Indian Army. The Chinese army had also entered into the monastery, but they didn’t hurt anyone. Earlier, Tawang was part of Tibet and the Chinese government had captured the land of Tibet. The Chinese government claims that Tawang is also part of Tibet. But Tawang is an integral part of India. We don’t worry, because the Indian Army is at the border. We are not worried about the incidents that have happened along the border and we are living here peacefully,” Yeshi Khawo said.

He further said that the Tawang Monastery was built in 1681 which is the second biggest and oldest Monastery in Asia and was built following the approval of the 5th Dalai Lama.

“The 6th Dalai Lama was born in Tawang. We have many blessings from 5th and 6th Dalai Lama. At present, there are around 500 monks in the Tawang Monastery. There are 89 small houses in the premises of the Monastery and its Gurukul system. Apart from Buddhism philosophy, general education is also imparted,” Yeshi Khawo said. (ANI)

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When Will India Have ‘China Pe Charcha’: Kharge

By LokMarg 17th December 2022

Congress President Mallikarjun Kharge on Saturday slammed the central government over the “Chinese build-up” on the borders and asked when will the nation have “China Pe Charcha?”

In a tweet, Kharge emphasised the Chinese build-up in Doklam and said that it was “threatening” India’s ‘Siliguri corridor’. He also said that the matter is of utmost concern now.

Kharge took to Twitter and said: Chinese build-up in Doklam up to “Jampheri Ridge” is threatening India’s strategic “Siliguri Corridor” — the gateway to the Northeastern States! This is of utmost concern for our National Security! @narendramodi ji, When will the nation have . . . “CHINA PE CHARCHA”?

Leader of Opposition Mallikarjun Kharge was among 17 Opposition leaders who raised the issue to hold a detailed discussion on the clash when the House assembled on Wednesday and Deputy Chairman Harivansh allowed ‘Zero Hour’ so that parliamentarians could raise their issues.

As the Opposition’s demand to hold the discussion on the India-China border clash was not allowed by the Chair, the 17 parties staged a walkout.

The MPs demanded the suspension of ‘Zero Hour’ to have a discussion on the issue which needs immediate measures to combat such aggressions and protect India’s interests along the international border.

The clash near Yangtse along the LAC in the sensitive sector occurred on December 9 amid the over 30-month border standoff between the two sides in eastern Ladakh.

Congress MP Rahul Gandhi on Friday accused the Centre of “sleeping” while China makes “offensive preparations” across the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

Gandhi, during a press conference in Rajasthan, had flagged a “clear threat from China” and claimed that the neighbouring country is “preparing for war” and alleged that the Centre is “hiding and not accepting it”.

“There is a clear threat from China. The government is trying to hide it and ignore it. But that threat cannot be ignored or hidden. China is making offensive preparation on the side of Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh. The Indian government is in slumber. It doesn’t want to hear it. China is preparing for war, not for an incursion. If you see the pattern of their weapons, they are preparing for war. Our government is hiding it and is not accepting it,” Gandhi said.

However, Gandhi’s remarks invited huge backlash from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party which strongly condemned the statement for “demoralising” the Indian Army.

The BJP today hit out at Rahul Gandhi for his remark and said Congress should immediately expel him from the party.

BJP National spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia addressing a press conference in New Delhi said, “Being an Indian Bharatiya Janata Party is proud of the Indian Army, we are proud of our Army.

The soldiers who are beating the Chinese army on the border, are showing their strength. Why is ‘Jaichand’ Rahul Gandhi doing the work of breaking the morale of our army?

BJP President JP Nadda also condemned Rahul Gandhi’s remarks.

“Rahul Gandhi’s statement works to demoralize our Army; no matter how much it is condemned, it is less. Indian army is a symbol of bravery and valour. We know that the Communist Party of China had signed MoU with the Congress party,” Nadda said. (ANI)

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China Has Myanmar Under Its Claws: Media Report

By LokMarg 16th December 2022

The dragon has got its claws on Myanmar, a country suffering diplomatic isolation following the February 2021 coup, backing the military junta in its bid to bleed the nation dry of natural resources, this is how Roland Tatum has described the plight of erstwhile Burma, in his opinion piece for Mizzima News.

China rushed in as a knight in shining armour to shield Myanmar, beset by a global boycott and turmoil following the overthrow of the legitimate elected civilian government of Aung San Suu Kyi, Tatum says, reminding, “However, such a saviour’s act seldom comes for free”.

“The dragon, the apostle of development, chooses to take underdeveloped nations for a ride and later arm-twists them into making diplomatic and economic concessions. There is little doubt that China clamours to solve Myanmar’s problem only to serve its own ends.”

China has its eyes on Myanmar’s natural resources for its economic gains, says the writer whose pen name is Roalnd Tatum.

China stepped into Myanmar at a time of political and economic crisis due to Myanmar’s recent coup. Foreign firms were leaving the country suffering from poverty, and unemployment and the country’s military after failing to implement an agreed five-point consensus, was blocked from attending the ASEAN meetings.

At this time, China was quick to recognize Myanmar’s authoritarian regime, legitimising it by branding the coup as a “cabinet reshuffle”.

For China’s continued support and investments, the Myanmar generals bartered their natural resources, including timber, jade, copper and gas. As a result, China obtained massive gas fields and land for the Kyaukphyu port and the SEZ in Rakhine State for free.

According to Mizzima News, China continues with its ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) through Myanmar, with a view to effecting economic and military domination in the Indian Ocean. Only Myanmar could give China access to both the Indian Ocean and the Pacific to fend off the perceived encirclement of its borders.

The development of China Myanmar Economic Corridor (CMEC) is therefore going on in full swing. Through the project, the Chinese government aims to build a transport corridor comprising roads, railroads and economic special zones from Kunming in China’s Yunnan province to Myanmar’s west coast.

It includes a deep-sea port as part of the BRI in Kyaukphyu, to which the junta is extending much-needed assistance, reported Mizzima News.

The new passageway will act as a substitute for the Malacca Strait which is currently under the dominance of the US military. The route, an important one, accounts for 80 per cent of the Chinese import of oil and gas.

It is not a stretch to imagine that the Kyaukphyu deep-sea port could double up as a site for the future deployment of the Chinese Navy, writes Roland Tatum for Mizzima News.

“What has kicked off with economic exploitation is poised to serve China’s geopolitical and security interests in the future, by keeping a close tab on the shared border with India and Thailand.”

Tatum ends the article with the warning: “…Myanmar looks set to gain a dragon eye”.

The writer also cautions: “Let’s not forget that history has a peculiar way of repeating itself when a blind eye is turned willfully to the lessons offered by it. While attending to its short-term need to counter worldwide condemnation, Myanmar is gradually falling prey to China’s long-term machinations.”.

(ANI)

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China Acting As An Impediment To Sri Lanka’s IMF Deal

By LokMarg 15th December 2022

The uncertainty and lack of clarity regarding the extent and time frame of China’s restructuring of its debt to Sri Lanka are delaying Sri Lanka’s bailout package from the IMF, according to Asian Lite.

Debt restructuring is one of the prerequisites of the IMF’s bailout package for Sri Lanka. The process is, however, getting delayed due to Sri Lanka’s dire situation and a delay in concrete commitment from China, the island nation’s largest bilateral lender. Sri Lanka seems to be missing its December deadline.

According to the Opposition legislator from the Tamil National Alliance, Shanakiyan Rasamanickam, China is acting as an impediment to Sri Lanka’s IMF deal and has been paying bribes to force down unnecessary projects.

“If China is truly Sri Lanka’s friend, ask the Chinese to help with the [debt] restructuring and the IMF programme.” Referring to Rajapaksa-era mega infrastructure projects in Hambantota and Colombo funded by the Chinese, the Batticaloa MP, as quoted by Asian Lite, said: “That is not China being Sri Lanka’s friend, that is China being Mahinda Rajapaksa’s friend.”

The Chinese Embassy refuted the allegations and claimed that bilateral negotiations are on after working teams of different Chinese banks visited the island nation. Rasamanickam’s allegations are incorrect, said the embassy.

The Chinese investments under the BRI and bilateral projects with other countries have always been seen with suspicion for their lack of economic feasibility as well as debt-creating potential. Now as Sri Lanka is negotiating with China for debt restructuring and China has claimed to have shown readiness for restructuring its debt to Sri Lanka, “It will be the first time a major Asian Belt and Road Initiative borrower is going through the process… China’s approach to Sri Lanka’s debt restructuring and the extent of debt relief offered will set a precedent for China’s role and behaviour in other countries as well,” said the research report, according to Asian Lite.

Another country, Djibouti, at the heart of China’s multibillion-dollar “Belt and Road Initiative,” is struggling under mounting financial pressure and has suspended debt repayments to China, its main bilateral creditor, reported European Times.

Djibouti, a tiny nation at the intersection of the Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, owed a total of USD 2.68 billion to external creditors at the end of 2020, according to the World Bank.

The African country struggling to repay Chinese loans has brought criticism to the Chinese model of project financing for creating dept traps for developing countries.

In its latest report on Djibouti, the World Bank stated that in 2022, Djibouti’s debt servicing costs tripled to USD 184 million from USD 54 million in 2021. A further increase to USD 266 million has been predicted for 2023.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) after considering the sharp projected increase in Djibouti’s external debt servicing, in late 2021, declared Djibouti’s debt as being unsustainable. (ANI)

Chinese Army Behaving Like Hooligans, Streetfighters: Naravane

By LokMarg 14th December 2022

The Indian Army maintains a “professional stance” in warfare and would rather open fire than resort to “wielding clubs,” said former Chief of Army Staff General MM Naravane in a reference to the Chinese army engaging in fisticuffs with Indian soldiers in Galwan valley and most recently in Arunachal’s Tawang.

General Naravane asked if the Chinese army (People’s Liberation Army) has gone down to the level of “prehistoric times” by using “clubs and barbed wires”.

His remarks came days after the Chinese army attempted to change the status quo on the Line of Actual Control in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh on December 9 through a faceoff with the Indian troops, in which they were pushed back by the Indian Army without suffering any casualties.

“We would still like to maintain that we are a 21st-century Army. To start going back to clubs and barbed wires is going back to prehistoric times. It is a very regressive way of going. We would still like to maintain that in warfare also there are certain rules. It is not that you do whatever you want to do. We would still like to maintain a professional stance. Therefore, rather than resort to wielding clubs, we rather open fire,” he said in ‘Podcast with Smita Prakash’.

“That is how an army fights by using the weapons at your disposal and not getting into fisticuffs. Are we hooligans or mafia? We are professional. Is that the level PLA has gone down to? Hooliganism and streetfighting? Or they are a professional 21st-century army? On one side they try to show their technological prowess, on the other side they are coming with barbed wire clubs. It is ridiculous,” the former Army Chief said.

Talking about the Galwan valley clash in 2020 in which 20 Indian soldiers lost their lives and several Chinese soldiers were also killed, General Naravane said that the Indian Army countered them in the same way that was used against it.

“Although we did not fire, we also resorted in a similar vein. It was always a question of who will open fire first. Since we felt that we had the measure of the PLA troops over there, we also countered them in the same way that they were taking action against us which was basically by the use of non-lethal, that is not actually firing, although casualties did occur. They were carrying sticks and we were also carrying sticks,” he said.

Asked what went through his mind when Colonel Santosh Babu and his men were killed in the Galwan clash in 2020, General Naravane said that the soldiers who made the supreme sacrifice died in the line of duty.

“Any casualty of course hurts you. Every man is your man or son or daughter as a chief or a battalion commander. So any such news come, obviously you feel saddened. On the other hand, you also feel that what they have done is in the line of duty. They have certainly given as good as they got,” he said. (ANI)