India ramping up border infrastructure, China warned against changing LAC

Defence Minister inaugurated the 27other projects of the BRO. Out of these, eight have been constructed in Ladakh, four in Jammu and Kashmir, five in Arunachal Pradesh, three each in Sikkim, Punjab and Uttarakhand and two in Rajasthan

EOI, KOLKATA, JAN 3, 2023: Delhi on Tuesday fired fresh salvo against China, with defence minister Rajnath Singh asserting that India had every capability to thwart challenges along the border to protect the territory of the country external affairs minister S Jaishankar accusing China of violating agreements with India on border issues and trying to “unilaterally change the LAC.”

India’s stand assumed added significance as Rajnath Singh made his statement in Arunachal Pradesh, a state that China claims in entirety, calling it ‘southern Tibet.’ "The Indian Army has the capability to face any challenge along the border," and was ready to deal with any situation, he said during the inauguration of a Border Roads Organisation (BRO) bridge at Boleng in Arunachal Pradesh.

Indian and Chinese troops had clashed along the Line of Actual Control in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh on December 9.The defence minister said the Centre had attached top priority in developing infrastructure to strengthen the border. 

"The new bridge will not only facilitate easy movement for locals, but also help in faster induction of troops, heavy equipment and mechanised vehicles to forward areas," he said.

The 100-metre Class-70' steel arch superstructure on the Aalo-Yingkiong road between West Siang and Upper Siang districts, is one of the 28 projects completed by the BRO at a cost of Rs 724.3 crore to bolster border infrastructure.

Singh also virtually inaugurated the 27other projects of the BRO. Out of these, eight have been constructed in Ladakh, four in Jammu and Kashmir, five in Arunachal Pradesh, three each in Sikkim, Punjab and Uttarakhand and two in Rajasthan.

Singh described the projects as a testament to the concerted efforts of the government and the BRO towards the development of border areas in order to enhance the operational preparedness of the armed forces, and ensure socio-economic development of far-flung regions. 

"We do not believe in war, but if it is forced upon us, we will fight. We are ensuring that the nation is protected from all threats. Our armed forces are ready and it is heartening to see that the BRO is walking shoulder-to-shoulder with them," he said. 

Singh said that in2021, BRO completed 102 infrastructure projects.In 2022, along with these 28 projects, the organisation has dedicated a record 103infrastructure projects to the nation, the defence minister added. 

"The BRO has also connected the farthest and most remote villages of the country like Huri Village in Arunachal Pradesh to the mainland. This connectivity has triggered reverse migration in these areas, where population increase is being witnessed with the commencement of basic amenities like schooling facilities and primary health care centres, electric supply and employment opportunities," Singh added.

In Vienna, in an interview to Austria's national broadcaster ORF on Monday, Jaishankar said India had agreements with China not to mass force in the border areas. However, China did not observe those agreements, "which is why we have the currently tense situation that wedo", he said while responding to a question. 

"We had an agreement not to unilaterally change the Line of Control (LAC), which they (China)have tried to unilaterally do," he said. Denying China’s claim that India did not observe the agreements, Jaishankar said it was difficult for Beijing to say that as the "record is very clear. Today, there is a lot of transparency in satellite pictures. If we see who moved the forces to the border areas first, I think the record is very clear.” (With PTI reports from Boleng in Arunachal Pradesh and Vienna