Rahul Gandhi Alleges China Blocked Indian Patrols in Arunachal Pradesh

Opposition leader Rahul Gandhi and Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge alleged on August 13 and 14, 2026, that Chinese forces have prevented Indian troops from patrolling traditional areas along the Line of Actual Control in Arunachal Pradesh. Gandhi claimed that China informed India that while the territory belongs to India, Indian troops are barred from patrolling it. The Indian National Congress specifically cited denied access to patrolling points in Taksing and the Shera-5 point, while noting the construction of 628 Chinese villages along the border.

Gandhi and Kharge accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of prioritizing a fake image over national security by instructing media editors to suppress the news. They demanded immediate answers from the government and questioned whether the pre-May 2020 status quo in Eastern Ladakh has been restored. Gandhi further alleged that internal disagreements exist within the Prime Minister's Office regarding the border issue.

The Indian government and military have rejected these claims. The Indian Army and Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu dismissed reports of encroachment in Taksing as baseless, asserting that the army continues to protect the state's territory. The Ministry of External Affairs reiterated that Arunachal Pradesh is an inalienable part of India and emphasized the importance of peace along the border. The Government of China described the border situation as generally stable but declined to comment on reports of increased military activity in the Upper Subansiri region.