Arunachal Pradesh deputy chief minister Chowna Mein and sports minister Mama Natung on February 18 expressed concern over repeated reports of Chinese intrusion in Arunachal Pradesh, including the latest one on reported construction of a village in the disputed Indian territory in Upper Subansiri district.
Speaking at the state executive meeting of Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM) at Namsai, senior BJP leader Chowna Mein reiterated that China did not build the infrastructure in Arunachal’s territory but in the area which they had captured in 1959.
He also emphasised on development of infrastructure in the border areas. “Whenever any minister from central government visits Arunachal Pradesh we first of all request to give attention to border areas. We have to give education, health, electricity, water supply facilities and most importantly, communication,” Mein said in his address at the meeting.
Apprising about the recent meeting of chief minister Pema Khandu with prime minister Narendra Modi in New Delhi, the deputy chief minister said that the CM apprised the PM about border issues and urged for development of infrastructure in the border areas.
Later, talking to reporters, Mein said: “We have taken development of border areas as a priority sector.”
Natung, in his address, lambasted China for claiming Arunachal Pradesh as its own. “It’s not 1962…We are not part of China. We are Indians. We are with the Govt of India. We have faith in our army, they won’t allow even an inch of land to be encroached upon,” he said.
Since BJP government came to power, not an inch of land was allowed to be encroached despite several attempts, Natung claimed, while adding that those captured was during the Congress regime.
