NEW DELHI, Aug 20: Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday said border development has become a top priority for the Narendra Modi government, while dismissing claims of fresh Chinese incursions into Arunachal Pradesh.
Rijiju, who represents Arunachal West in the Lok Sabha, said the government was focused on strengthening infrastructure and connectivity in remote border areas.
“Some people casually commented on border. Border areas are tough but @narendramodi govt is committed to border development. I went to Maza, Galemo, Taksing areas in Arunachal Pradesh to speed up infrastructure works. Borders were neglected in the past but it’s top priority now,” he said in a post on X.
Rijiju also criticised the Congress over its past approach to border infrastructure and cited former Defence Minister A.K. Antony’s remarks in Parliament in 2013.
“Amongst the Congress leaders, A.K. Anthony Ji is very honest. As Defence Minister he admitted the Congress Govt’s policy of not making border infrastructure on the floor of the Parliament,” Rijiju said.
Antony, while speaking in the Lok Sabha on September 6, 2013, had acknowledged that India had lagged behind China in border infrastructure, attributing it to a policy followed for several decades after Independence.
He had said the policy was based on the belief that keeping border areas underdeveloped would provide greater security. Antony also acknowledged that China had developed substantially better infrastructure along its side of the border.
However, Antony had clarified that successive Indian governments had recognised the shortcomings of the approach and begun strengthening border infrastructure well before the UPA came to power.
Rijiju’s remarks came amid renewed concerns over reports of Chinese military activity in the Upper Subansiri region of Arunachal Pradesh.
On Wednesday, Rijiju rejected reports claiming that Chinese troops had penetrated up to 60 km inside Arunachal Pradesh, while acknowledging concerns raised by local residents.
“India-China Border issue is a serious subject. Do not make false claim on such sensitive matter. We don’t want to repeat the past mistakes. Govt will address the concern of the local people and protect Indian Territory,” he had posted on X.
The Ministry of External Affairs has also stressed the importance of maintaining peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had said on August 11 that India considers border issues with China serious and has consistently conveyed to Beijing that peace and tranquillity in border areas are essential for maintaining stable bilateral relations.
He added that the situation along the border would have a bearing on the broader state of India-China ties.
