Thaindian News

New Delhi, Jan 10 (IANS) The government Monday termed as “baseless” reports of a Chinese troop incursion in Leh and said there were “differences in perception” on the Line of Actual Control between India and China.”These reports are baseless and do not conform to facts. They are, therefore, not a cause for concern,” said a statement issued by the ministry of external affairs.

The foreign office was reacting to media reports that Chinese troops had entered into Demchok area in Leh district of Jammu and Kashmir in late December 2010.

“It will be recollected that there are differences in perception, between India and China, on the Line of Actual Control in this area,” the ministry said.

This point was also mentioned by Indian Army chief General V.K. Singh, who also played down the incursion reports.

“There is a perceptional difference about the Line of Actual Control between us and China. Obviously somebody (with a) perception that the border passes through a particular area is going to come and stop, like we would do if it was our perception,” Singh said on the sidelines of his interaction with NCC cadets at a Republic Day camp.

Earlier in October last year, local construction workers were stopped by Chinese soldiers from building a bus station in an area close to the LAC.

But the army chief said the incident was not “alarming”.

“I only see it as a problem of perception. We patrol up to our perception of the LAC which is further east and the Chinese come to the LAC as perceived by them,” he said.

“When they do that and it is beyond our line, it is called transgression. I am quite sure on the Chinese side also they would call it a transgression when our patrols go up to our line of perception.”

The army chief said the area where construction was going on was out of bounds for any construction work and regretted that “unfortunately” such activities were being pushed for local gains.

“Unfortunately, some people for various local gains have pushed construction activity in that area,” he said.