Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat is scheduled to reach Leh today. He will take stock of the security situation along with Northern Army Command officials and 14 Corps officials. General Rawat’s visit assumes significance since it comes in the wake of Defence Minister Rajnath Singh rescheduling his own visit to Ladakh.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh was scheduled to visit Ladakh on Friday to review the preparedness of the armed forces amid the ongoing standoff with China. Chief of Army Staff General MM Navarane was supposed to accompany the Raksha Mantri. However, Singh’s visit was rescheduled at the last minute.
On Thursday, the Ministry of Defence cleared the acquisition of 21 MiG-29s and 12 Su-30 MKI aircraft. The decision was made during a meeting of the Defence Acquisition Council chaired by Defence Minister Rajnath Singh.
In a tweet, Singh said, “Focused on indigenous design and development these approvals include acquisitions from Indian Industry of Rs 31130 Cr. The equipment manufactured in India will involve Indian Defence Industry in participation with the local MSMEs. It will give a major fillip to ‘Make in India'”
Reports on July 2 also confirmed that the Indian Army has deployed Special Forces unit in forward areas along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh.
India and China are currently engaged in a military standoff arising out of differences in opinion over the coordinates of the LAC. Tensions rose to an all-time high when a violent face-off in Galwan Valley on June 15 resulted in casualties on both sides.
