No regiment based on community: Defence minister

Prashant Acharya, EOI, SILIGURI, 5 Mar 2017: Defence minister Manohar Parikkar today landed at Bagdogra airport en route to Darjeeling to inaugurate a model school set up by the Gorkhaland Territorial Administration. Answering questions posed by journalists gathered at the airport, he said, "No regiment will be formed henceforth in the name of community (Jati). Whatever regiments exist will remain as they are and their names will not be changed anymore."

He said work for developing infrastructure is being carried out to thwart incursions by the Chinese army in the northeastern region art of the country. "These areas are overseen by the 33 Corps of our Army. Besides China, the areas share borders with Nepal, Bangladesh and Bhutan. We are focusing on developing the infrastructure after proper planning," said Parikkar.

Speaking at a programme organised by the Airport Authority of India to welcome the minister, Parrikar said Bagdogra will soon function 24 hours a day and the defence ministry has no objection to this.

At present flights are not allowed to take off and land at Bagdogra at night. The civilian side of the airport is operated by the AAI and the airport as a whole is under the control of the defence ministry.