“The security scenario in the region mandates that India’s armed forces remain prepared and vigilant at all times. The development at the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Ladakh is a small snapshot of what we are required to handle at short notice,” said Air Chief Marshal Rakesh Kumar Singh Bhadauria on Saturday, June 20, 2020 as the review officer of the Combined Graduation Parade (CGP) at Air Force Academy (AFA) Dundigal in Hyderabad.

“In spite of unacceptable Chinese action after agreements reached during military talks and resulting in the loss of lives, all efforts are underway to ensure that the current situation at LAC is resolved peacefully. But it should be very clear that we are well prepared and suitably deployed to respond to any contingency. I assure the nation that we are determined to deliver and will never let the sacrifice of our braves in Galwan go in vain,” he added.

At the outset, he also requested everyone to join him in paying tribute to Colonel Santosh Babu and his brave men who made the supreme sacrifice while defending the LAC in Galwan valley. “The gallant actions in a highly-challenging situation have demonstrated our resolve to protect the sovereignty of our country at any cost," he said.

“In spite of unacceptable Chinese action after agreements reached during military talks and resulting in the loss of lives, all efforts are underway to ensure that the current situation at LAC is resolved peacefully. But it should be very clear that we are well prepared and suitably deployed to respond to any contingency. I assure the nation that we are determined to deliver and will never let the sacrifice of our braves in Galwan go in vain,” he added.

Colonel Babu was reportedly the commander of the 16th Bihar regiment, who was killed along with 19 other men in Galwan valley in Eastern Ladakh on Monday (June 15, 2020) night.

Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria on the first anniversary of Balakot air strikes at Srinagar Air Base.

Marking the “momentous” day when 123 Indian Air Force (IAF) graduates have successfully completed their training and underling the present situation, the IAF chief also added that the newly commissioned IAF officers will be reporting directly to their units. “Instead of going home for a break, the newly commissioned officers will be proceeding straight to their next units to shoulder the responsibilities and handle the task at hand,” he said. You will soon join frontline flying squadrons and other combat units equipped with very diverse and yet some of the best equipment in the world.

During the CGP, Bhadauria also stated, “As the nation fights the adverse effects of COVID-19 pandemic, IAF has taken a number of measures to counter the spread and disruption in our work. We have successfully protected our combat commission and adjusted training and operational methodologies to resume virtually full operations.”

Underlining to the new officers about appreciating integration and joint-ness with the Indian Navy and the Indian Army, he stressed that to remember to fight in an environment that is fully integrated.

The IAF has reportedly deployed AH-64E Apache 'tank-buster' attack helicopters to provide air support to the Indian Army troops in Ladakh and MiG-29 jets flying combat air patrol have also been observed in the region.

Marking the “momentous” day when 123 Indian Air Force (IAF) graduates have successfully completed their training and underling the present situation, the IAF chief also added that the newly commissioned IAF officers will be reporting directly to their units.

Bhadauria’s remarks have come days after 20 Indian soldiers lost their lives in the violent face-off on June 15-16. This happened during an attempt by the Chinese troops to unilaterally change the status quo during the de-escalation in eastern Ladakh. He also said that they are aware of the situation, be it on LAC or beyond, be it their air deployments, their posture and kind of deployments, and have full analysis, taking necessary action to handle any contingency that may come up and monitoring all the moments.

The clash in the Galwan Valley is the first instance of casualties on the LAC since 1975 and came amidst a “de-escalation” process in the area that started the previous week, after almost a month-long standoff between troops at several points along the LAC in Ladakh and Sikkim. Tensions between the Indian Army and China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) have increased after the June 15 Galwan tussle.

The IAF chief had made a low-key visit last week to the forward airbases in Leh and Srinagar to review the IAF’s preparedness in the sensitive sector where the force is operating its fighter jets and new attack and heavy-lift helicopters.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also remarked during an all-party meeting called to discuss the India-China border situation, “Neither has anyone entered our territory, nor is anyone still there, nor is any of our posts under anyone’s capture. In Ladakh, our 20 jawans got martyred. But they taught a lesson to those who were eyeing Indian Territory.”