'Time Has Come To Take Back Aksai Chin From Chinese Occupation': Ladakh MP Jamyang Tsering Namgyal

Member of Parliament from Ladakh Jamyang Tsering Namgyal on Thursday (18 June) asserted that time has come for India to take back Aksai Chin and urged people to refer to the region as "China Occupied Ladakh" or Aksai India.

In an interview with NDTV, Jamyang said that China has betrayed India hundreds of times since the 1962 Indo-Sino war, when it occupied the Aksai Chin region.

Jamyang raised objection to the term Aksai Chin and said that it should instead be referred to as "China Occupied Ladakh" on the lines of Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.

In a tweet posted in response to the interview, Jamyang asserted that, "It is not Aksai Chin. Actually it is Aksai India".

While reminding people that the 5,000 square kilometre Shakshgam Valley handed over by Pakistan to Chinese control - is also Indian territory, Jamyang said that India must always keep asserting its rightful claim on these lands.

While addressing the question of whether India will be able to take back control of these occupied lands, Jamyang said that the task is admittedly difficult but not impossible.

"Aaj is violent standoff ke baad, hamare jawanon ki shahadat ke baad, main samajhta hoon ki Aksai Chin wapas lene ka time aa gaya hai (After the violent stand-off with China where our Jawans were martyred I feel the time has come to take back Aksai Chin", said Jamyang.