Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has rejected reports claiming that Chinese forces have entered 60 km inside Indian territory in Arunachal Pradesh, calling the allegations incorrect.
Speaking to news agency IANS, Rijiju said it was wrong to claim that China had entered 60 km into India. His remarks came amid reports of an alleged Chinese incursion in Upper Subansiri district, where locals claimed Chinese troops had crossed the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Taksing circle.
If you enjoyed reading this article, you can help support our journalism by adding OHeraldo as a preferred source.
Rijiju said India and China share a long and largely undemarcated border in Arunachal Pradesh. He noted that the boundary has not been fully delineated on the ground and stressed that the issue was not new.
At the same time, the minister acknowledged increased Chinese activity in certain border areas and said the concerns raised by villagers should be taken seriously. However, he cautioned against circulating unverified videos and claims, including material allegedly originating from Bangladesh, saying such reports could lower the morale of the armed forces and create confusion.
Rijiju also highlighted the history of infrastructure development along the India-China border. He said China had started building roads and other infrastructure in border areas much earlier, while the previous Congress-led government had adopted a different approach.
He cited a statement by former Defence Minister AK Antony in Parliament that India had followed a policy of not building infrastructure along the border.
According to Rijiju, the situation changed after 2014, when the government accelerated the construction of roads and other infrastructure in remote border areas. He said several areas that had seen little development since Independence have since been connected through improved infrastructure.
Rijiju argued that India’s earlier infrastructure deficit had given China an advantage in the border regions, while the government has since sought to bridge that gap through faster development.
(This story is published from a syndicated feed)
