Indian Army Chief General Upendra Dwivedi emphasized that the military should not be involved in political matters, expressing his concerns about the defense forces being drawn into political debates. In an exclusive interview with ANI, he stated that the political response to the issue had already been provided by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh through a tweet and an official statement from the Defence Ministry. However, he stressed the importance of ensuring that the army remains apolitical.The comments were made in response to a question about Congress leader Rahul Gandhi’s statement in Parliament, where he claimed that the Chief of Army Staff had acknowledged Chinese incursions into Indian territory. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had refuted these claims in detail, countering the Opposition leader’s remarks.

Addressing his earlier remarks about the terrain near the India-China border being "doctored" by both nations, General Dwivedi clarified that the Indian Army had not moved into disputed territory but had simply strengthened its position by becoming more "comfortable" and "assertive." He explained that, in the past, the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) primarily controlled the area, while the army had a minimal presence. Over time, both India and China have increased their troop deployments and infrastructure along the border.Explaining the expansion of facilities along the Line of Actual Control (LAC), General Dwivedi noted that as the number of soldiers increased, the need for better accommodation, transportation, and logistical support also grew. This resulted in the construction of roads, billets, and other infrastructure on both sides of the border. He reiterated that these developments were not indicative of any incursion but rather a necessity to support the growing military presence.

Regarding the stockpiling of resources, he pointed out that a larger number of soldiers naturally required more provisions, storage, and logistical arrangements. He highlighted that both India and China were making similar preparations in response to the evolving situation.Earlier this month, Rahul Gandhi, the Leader of the Opposition in Lok Sabha, had alleged that China was "sitting inside India" due to the failure of the ‘Make in India’ initiative. His statement was strongly refuted by the Defence Minister. During a debate in Parliament, Rahul Gandhi claimed that while Prime Minister Narendra Modi denied Chinese incursions, the Army Chief had confirmed them. However, Rajnath Singh later clarified on social media that General Dwivedi's remarks referred only to the disruption of traditional patrolling patterns, which have since been restored through recent disengagement agreements.

Meanwhile, diplomatic engagements between India and China have continued, with Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri recently visiting Beijing to discuss bilateral relations, including political, economic, and people-to-people exchanges. Both countries had reached an agreement in October regarding patrolling arrangements in the Depsang Plains and Demchok, two key friction points along the LAC. This agreement followed previous disengagements in eastern Ladakh, achieved through diplomatic and military negotiations.

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