PM Modi makes a surprise visit to Ladakh amidst India-China standoff, sends strong message.

As per reports, the PM arrived in Leh, Ladakh early today morning with Gen Bipin Rawat and COAS MM Naravane. PM Modi is there to meet soldiers and boost the morals of the Indian armed forces troops present there. Reports say that he is also to meet the soldiers who were injured in the violent clashes with Chinese troops.

Aaj Tak reported that Modi reached Leh at 7am and called the development “unpredictable”. The move seems to have stunned the media presence in Leh, who were expecting Defence Minister Rajnath Singh to visit.

The visit is said to be unannounced. Defence minister Rajnath Singh’s visit to the forward locations was put off. This report says that sources have said that the “government was waiting to see if the Chinese would honour the commitments made during the Corps Commander-level talks over three rounds – on June 6, June 22 and June 30.”

Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat is in Leh. He reached Leh today. “He will be briefed on the present situation in the Eastern Ladakh sector by the 14 Corps officials,” reports say.

The prime minister said will visit the army hospital in Nimu near Leh where soldiers who were injured in the June 15 skirmish are recovering. Twenty Indian soldiers were killed in the face-off; China has not disclosed how many casualties its troops suffered.

He posted a picture of his interaction with the soldiers in Nimu on his Instagram page. “Interacting with our brave armed forces personnel at Nimu,” he captioned the photo which shows PM Modi sitting in a camouflage tent.