'Face-off situation continues on India-China border', politics heated up over ITBP DG's statement

Congress and the opposition have cornered the central government over the statement of the Director General of Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) regarding the tense situation on the Arunachal Pradesh border.

Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) Director General (DG) Shatrujit Kapoor had said on Thursday, "In the last few days, such a situation arose when both the sides (India and China) came face to face at many places in Arunachal Pradesh. This situation is still continuing."

This is the first time since the tension on the north-eastern border started in July this year, that it has been officially confirmed.

Since the end of July, there has been tension in Asaphila and Maja areas of Upper Subansiri district in Arunachal Pradesh.

Congress has targeted the Modi government and said, "The Prime Minister and his entire machinery are keeping silence on this serious issue."

Congress spokesperson Pawan Kheda alleged in the press conference that the Modi government has bowed down to China.

Shiv Sena UBT leader Priyanka Chaturvedi termed the matter as serious and said that 'the country's Home Minister, Defense Minister and Foreign Minister should answer.'

Cockroach Janata Party (CJP) founder Abhijit Deepke has also taken a jibe at the government by sharing Shatrujit Kapoor's statement.

Even on social media, people are reacting to the statement of ITBP DG and giving their opinion on the situation on the border.

In 'Himveer Samman Samaroh', an honor ceremony organized every year for ITBP soldiers, on Thursday, IDBP DG Shatrujit Kapoor said that ITBP commandos have been active during the ongoing conflict on the Arunachal Pradesh border.

He said that 'these clashes were continuing even when Chinese President Xi Jinping came to Delhi for the BRICS conference.'

He praised the 'extraordinary work' of the Shaurya Commando teams.

He said, "Our newly formed Shaurya commando teams played a brilliant role in this. ITBP was formed as a guerrilla force in the hilly areas and in 2004 we were given the responsibility of protecting the border with China."

In this program organized at the Central Training College (CTC) in Alwar, Rajasthan, he said that the weapons used by ITBP are 50 years old and their modernization is necessary.

Emphasizing the need to invest and develop drones and anti-drone technology, the ITBP chief said it may not be possible to counter China through conventional means as it has invested heavily in modernizing its weapons and infrastructure.

He said, "Now it will be difficult to counter China through conventional means, because China has invested heavily in modernizing its security forces and has gone ahead. But through drones, small countries can fight big countries, as we have seen in the Russia-Ukraine and Iran-America conflicts. Russia is sacrificing 10,000 to 15,000 soldiers every month."

Kapoor is scheduled to retire on October 31.

Congress attacked Modi government

After the ITBP chief's statement, Congress has launched a scathing attack on the Modi government at the Center and made allegations. Congress has said, 'There have been reports of clashes with Chinese soldiers since July this year, but the Modi government kept suppressing these reports.'

A post on the Congress's

"On one hand China was clashing with our soldiers, on the other hand Modi was welcoming the President of China. This is like sprinkling salt on the wounds of our soldiers. Every time Modi has left our soldiers alone, betrayed the country, shirked responsibility."

Senior Congress leader Jairam Ramesh wrote on Twitter, "While on one hand the Prime Minister who has surrendered to China continues to make concessions, on the other hand the Director General of ITBP has praised the performance of ITBP in the recent confrontations with the Chinese PLA in Arunachal Pradesh inside the Indian border, which is absolutely right. But the Prime Minister and his entire machinery are keeping silent on this serious issue."

Jairam wrote, "After the confrontation in Taksing, Corps Commander level talks were held in Wacha and Damai of Arunachal Pradesh last month. Local people have told that like in Ladakh, once again some patrolling points have gone out of our hands."

“China is changing the names of our cities in Arunachal Pradesh and building a 60,000 MW dam, which is a major threat to our ecology and water security.”

"India is still paying the price of that infamous clean chit given by the Prime Minister to China on June 19, 2020. After the martyrdom of our 20 brave soldiers, the Prime Minister had said - 'Neither has anyone entered our border there nor is anyone intruding, nor is any of our posts in anyone else's possession.'"

"Former Army Chief General Naravane had also said that during the Chinese incursion in Ladakh, the only instruction he received was, "Do whatever you deem appropriate." On July 4, 2025, Deputy Army Chief Lieutenant General Rahul Singh had publicly stated how widespread and deep was China's role in Pakistan's military operations during Operation Sindoor.

"But on August 25, 2026, former Chief of Defense Staff General Anil Chauhan publicly refuted the revelations of Lieutenant General Rahul Singh and shortly thereafter took charge of a major think tank in the RSS/BJP ecosystem."

"The country is asking the question - despite the ongoing tension on the border, this softness towards China and increasing dependence on the economic front, what kind of nationalism is this? The country needs clear answers on national security, not hollow claims of a 56-inch chest."

Abhijeet Deepke's taunt

CJP founder Abhijeet Deepke, who has recently become the face of movements against the Modi government, has taken a dig at the ITBP chief's latest statement.

Deepke wrote on X, "Yes, because the security forces who should be protecting our borders are being deployed to prevent citizens from protesting."

"Modi is putting national security at risk by using security forces against his own citizens. The priority should be the security of our borders, not turning Delhi into a fortress to suppress peaceful protests."

Activist Gurmehar Kaur wrote on Twitter, "China's PLA is far ahead of us. We will not be able to compete with it. After this statement by the Director General of ITBP, where are the talks about showing red eyes and 56-inch chest? The reality behind the hollow claims and the controversial clean chit given to China in 2020 is clear."

"Lost patrolling bases in Arunachal Pradesh. Record trade deficit of $112 billion, affecting our micro, small and medium enterprises. Top military brass are either without clear direction or contradicting each other on Operation Sindoor. Shameful."

A report in The Hindu states that since the end of July, the standoff between India and China has been going on in Asfila area near Taksing in Arunachal Pradesh.

According to the newspaper report, "The Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) has set up tents in the high altitude area. These tents are near the operating base of Maja Company in Taksing circle of Upper Subansiri district, within 6 to 7 kilometers of the Line of Actual Control (LAC), according to India's perception."

India hosted Xi Jinping for the BRICS summit from September 11 to 13 and both sides talked about reducing tensions.

Arunachal Pradesh: What does China say?

China calls Arunachal Pradesh as Southern Tibet. Many meetings have been held between India and China regarding the border dispute but the issue has not been resolved.

There is a 3,500 kilometer (2,174 mi) long border between the two countries. Due to border dispute, both the countries have faced each other in the battlefield in 1962, but there is still dispute over some areas on the border which sometimes becomes the cause of tension.

India's sovereignty including Arunachal Pradesh is internationally recognized. Arunachal is considered a part of India in international maps. China, along with Tibet, also claims Arunachal Pradesh and calls it Southern Tibet.

Initially, China claimed Tawang, the northern part of Arunachal Pradesh. Here is the largest Buddhist temple of India.

The McMahon Line between China and India is considered the international boundary line but China rejects it. China says that a large part of Tibet is with India.

Every time India has been rejecting China's objection. China claims 90 thousand square kilometers of land in Arunachal Pradesh, while India says that China has illegally occupied a large part of Aksai Chin in the west.