[1]New Delhi: Defence Minister AK Antony today told the Lok Sabha that China had not occupied 640 kilometres of Indian territory near the border in north-east Ladakh, in April.
Making a statement following a report submitted by the National Security Advisory Board (NSAB) to the Government, he said the "Shyam Saran Committee has not reported any encroachment by China; there is no question of ceding any Indian land."
The report was submitted last month after NSAB Chairman Shyam Saran was asked by Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to oversee the border infrastructure development and situation at the LAC by visiting the Ladakh and Siachen sectors.
According to reports, the People's Liberation Army (PLA) of China had gradually occupied nearly 640 square kilometres of area on the LAC in Ladakh in the past few months.
This issue was raised in the Lok Sabha on Thursday by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Yashwant Sinha who said media reports have quoted the Committee as having concluded that 640 sq km of Indian territory has been occupied by China.
Speaker Meira Kumar did not allow the Opposition to seek clarifications or make comments citing rules of procedure.
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