Congress didn't want construction of roads in Indo-China border: Kiren Rijiju

OUR CORRESPONDENT

NAMSAI: Union Minister for Law and Justice Kiren Rijiju on Sunday alleged that the successive Governments at the Centre never wanted to develop roads along the Indo-China border due to fear of disturbing peace.

Former Defence Minister AK Anthony had openly disclosed in the Parliament that the Governments since Independence had one policy, not to construct roads in China border out of fear that if roads were constructed, the Chinese army and people would come to Indian territory, Kiren Rijiju said while addressing a public rally here.

"With this mindset, the successive Governments at the Centre ruled the country for decades without thinking for the people of border areas," the Union Law and Justice Minister said.

He said that the scenario changed after 2014 when the Narendra Modi Government came to power at the Centre and now all borders in Arunachal Pradesh have been connected with motorable roads.

"Modi has changed the policy. We did not want to forcefully distort the relations with our neighbouring country, but all steps will be taken to protect every inch of our territory. With this thought process, the Prime Minster started planning and we have witnessed the light of development today," Rijiju, who represent the Arunachal West Parliamentary constituency in the Lok Sabha, said.

He added that as a representative of the State in the Parliament, Modi had entrusted upon him the responsibility to ensure that each development scheme reaches the last mile and the last person.

The Minister called upon the elected representatives of the State to join hand with the Prime Minister in his development mission.

"Earlier, the situation of the North-East was pathetic as most of the Prime Ministers and their Cabinet colleagues treated the region as an extra territory and extra subject. If they could manage time, then only they discussed about the North-East. But the situation changed after NDA came to power," he said.

Rijiju added that the present scenario is different as Modi has attached priority on development of the North-East.

"It may be a cabinet meeting or important Government function, Prime Minister always asks for suggestions how to implement all developmental schemes first in the Northeastern States. We were cornered earlier, but Modi gave us the centre stage and the development index of the region improved significantly," he said.

The Minister added that all the villages in Arunachal Pradesh are now connected by roads and have electricity and water supply, which was a distant dream earlier.

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