Pakistan, China 'Creating Border Dispute Under A Mission’: Rajnath Singh After Inaugurating 44 Bridges

Rajnath Singh's comments come at a time when tensions are simmering along the Line of Control (LoC) with Pakistan and the Line of Actual Control (LAC) with China, where Indian Army and the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) have been locked in a border row for over five months.

Union Defence Minister Rajnath Singh (File Photo/ Getty)

New Delhi: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh slammed China and Pakistan today after inaugurating 44 bridges to ease the movement of the armed forces in strategically important areas. The defence minister, speaking at an online event said that after Pakistan, China is also creating a dispute at the border with India as if it was part of a "mission". Rajnath Singh said that India is not only facing the situations along the frontiers resolutely, but it is also bringing in major development including in border areas. "You are well aware of the conditions created along our northern and eastern borders. First, it was Pakistan, and now also by China, as if a border dispute is being created under a mission. We have a border of about 7,000 km with these countries where the tension continues," Singh said. The defence minister was speaking after inaugurating the bridges built in strategically key areas of Ladakh, Arunachal Pradesh, Sikkim, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.

44 Bridges made by BRO across 7 States/ UTs (J&K-10 Ladakh-8 HP-2 Punjab-4 Uttarakhand-8 Arunachal-8 Sikkim-4) will be dedicated to the Nation by Raksha Mantri Shri @rajnathsingh in a short while from now. pic.twitter.com/zZZW3aTIsR

— रक्षा मंत्री कार्यालय/ RMO India (@DefenceMinIndia) October 12, 2020

Most of the 44 bridges, including seven in Ladakh, will help the armed forces in ensuring the quick movement of troops and weapons, officials said. The Defence Minister also symbolically launched the Nechiphu tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh. The opening of the bridges built by the Border Roads Organisation comes at a time when India is locked in a standoff with China in eastern Ladakh. Singh said in the challenging times of COVID-19 and despite the border tensions and disputes caused by Pakistan and China, the country was not only resolutely facing them but also bringing about historical changes in all sectors of development. The defence minister also laid the foundation stone for Nechiphu Tunnel in Arunachal Pradesh. This 450 metre-long tunnel would ensure all-weather connectivity across Nechiphu pass. The bridges inaugurated by Singh included 10 in Jammu and Kashmir, eight in Ladakh, two in Himachal Pradesh, four each in Punjab and Sikkim and eight each in Uttarakhand and Arunachal Pradesh. In his address, Singh complimented the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) for their achievements in improving infrastructure in border areas and said that dedication of 44 bridges in one go in itself was a record. He said the annual budget of BRO that varied from Rs 3,300 crore to Rs 4,600 crore in years between 2008 and 2016, saw a substantial rise and is pegged at over Rs 11,000 crore in 2020-21. "There was no reduction of this budget despite COVID-19," he said Singh said construction of the bridges will benefit both the civilian population as well as the military in the areas. Singh said the construction of the bridges would also benefit civilians. "Our armed forces personnel are deployed in large numbers in areas where transport is not available throughout the year," he said, adding, "These roads are not only for strategic needs, but they also reflect equal participation of all stakeholders in the development of the nation." The Defence Minister also gave a shout-out to the Border Roads Organisation (BRO) for completing the bridges, even working during the coronavirus-triggered lockdown.