JOIN USNo one can stop border infra work, says India
Ignoring China’s reservation on its border-infrastructure development plans, India on Saturday said that no one could stop the government from taking up such projects.
Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said India is carrying out such work in Indian territory and China need not have any objection to it.
“We will do certain infrastructural activities which have not been done in the last 60 years. The Chinese should not have a problem with my statement. They cannot stop me from doing my work,” he told reporters here, referring to China raising objection to his statement that India was planning to construct a road along the border with China.
“I did not say that we are going to do anything on their territory. I am an MP from Arunachal Pradesh. I have the constitutional right and obligation to do whatever is right in our territory. I am looking at border management also,” he said.
Rijiju had earlier said the proposed 2,000-km road would be beneficial from the security point of view as well as accelerate development in the border areas.
On China’s plans to construct a rail line near the border, he said it was nothing new. “They have been doing this for a very long time. My concern is we want to do what is necessary in our territory,” he said.
“I am not here to challenge what the Chinese do. My concern is that we must do what is necessary from our side. We are going to construct roads and infrastructure within our territory,” he added.