Tawang: Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, who is on a visit to Arunachal Pradesh to celebrate the occasion of Dussehra with jawans, on Tuesday (October 24) reached the forward posts and observed the Chinese PLA posts on the other side of the border from Bum La in the state. The 'Incredible India' gate on the Indian side and Chinese Border Personnel Meet facility (blue-roofed huts) on the Chinese side is seen from Bum La in Arunachal Pradesh.
Rajnath embarked on a two-day visit to Assam and Arunachal starting Monday. He is accompanied by Indian Army chief General Manoj Pande. During his visit, the Defence Minister was briefed by Army personnel on the defence establishments on the India-China border at Bum La. His celebration of Dussehra with the soldiers at the strategically important location close to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) comes at a time India and China have been engaged in a standoff in certain friction points in eastern Ladakh for over three years.
Rajnath pays tribute to fallen soldiers at War Memorial
The Minister laid a wreath at Tawang War Memorial in Arunachal and paid tributes to the Bravehearts. He was briefed about the Tawang War Memorial. He also paid tributes to 1962 war hero Subedar Joginder Singh at his memorial at Bum La.
He also performed Shashtra Puja at Tawang on the occasion of Vijaya Dashami. Rajnath has been performing Shastra Puja during Dussehra for last several years, including during his tenure as the Home Minister in the previous NDA government.
Rajnath addresses jawans
The Defence Minister extended greetings of Vijaya Dashmi to the jawans and said that he wanted to be among brave soldiers of the country on the pious occasion.
"I came here four years ago but I wanted to be among the brave jawans once again on VijayaDashami and extend them heartiest greetings on the occasion. So, I am here among you..." he said.
He lauded the jawans for standing in tough situation for the security of the country and said that the countrymen are proud of them.
“The tough situation in which you are shouldering the responsibility of guarding the country's borders - the more it is appreciated, the less it is. I would like to tell you that the countrymen are proud of you. All of you know the importance of your uniform..." he said.
The Defence Minister credited the jawans for keeping the country secure and playing their part in the raising the stature of India in the world.
“You have kept the borders secure and that is why India's stature before the world is rising rapidly. All the developed countries accept the reality that in the past 8-9 years, India's stature has risen. I would like to clearly say that under the leadership of PM Modi, if India's stature has risen, India has made economic developments, it indeed is important but had you not kept the country's border secure - this stature would not have been possible..." Rajnath said.
He hailed the manufacturing of weapons in the country under 'Make in India' and said that the exports have increased in the last nine years.
"Earlier we used to import weapons from other countries of the world. We used to import almost all the weapons, that is, our exports were worth about Rs 1,100 crores before 2014. You will be happy to know that today we are exporting equipments worth more than Rs 20,000 crore. Today all the weapons are being made on Indian soil and are being made by the hands of Indians under 'Make in India'," he said.
Rajnath interacts with jawans
The Defence Minister interacted with jawans during his visit to the post. He was seen personally approaching each jawan and talking to them.
Earlier this year, the Union Minister visited the Tawang sector to review security preparedness in the sector.
The Tawang sector is a disputed area given the Chinese Army has multiple times tried to intrude into the sector.
In December last year, People's Liberation Army troops had transgressed the LAC in the Tawang Sector, the violation was met by the Indian troops in a firm and resolute manner. This face-off had led to minor injuries to a few personnel from both sides.
Defence Minister Rajnath Singh had informed Parliament that Chinese forces had tried to "transgress" the Line of Actual Control and "unilaterally change the status quo" in the Yangtse area of the Tawang sector in Arunachal Pradesh last week but the Indian troops prevented the bid, resulting in a "physical scuffle leading to injuries to a few personnel on both sides".
(With ANI inputs)
