In his first remarks on the ongoing confrontations along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Thursday stated that transgressions have been happening because China does not recognise the McMahon Line along the 1,200 km frontier.
Speaking on the sidelines of the International Tourism Mart, Chief Minister Khandu said, “No doubt transgression has happened. It keeps happening; it is nothing new since the border is not defined. The situation is quite normal now, and our Armed Forces are guarding the border very well.”
“China doesn’t consider the McMahon Line in Arunachal, and since the state shares a very long border with Tibet, China – around 1,200 km – sometimes patrolling parties transgress; our soldiers go that side, their patrolling parties also come this side sometimes,” he added.
ITBP Chief’s Face-Off Remark
The Chief Minister’s statement comes after ITBP Director General Shatrujeet Kapur admitted to a “face-off” at “several locations in Arunachal” that are “still ongoing.” The ITBP chief’s remarks triggered demands from opposition parties for immediate government clarification.
Responding to these concerns, the Ministry of External Affairs stated that stability along the LAC gets disturbed whenever Chinese troops diverge from established patrolling patterns. Security forces continue to remain deployed in sensitive areas to prevent potential escalation.
Siang Project Is A Defence Mechanism Project: Khandu
Addressing recent anti-dam protests in Pasighat, East Siang district, which turned violent and led to tear gas deployment, CM Khandu said the proposed 11,200-MW National Hydroelectric Power Corporation (NHPC) project is more of a “defence mechanism project” than a hydropower project.
“It is not a hydropower project; it is a defence mechanism project. Hydropower is an offshoot. It is in the discussion stage. Discussions with the public are going on.”
The state government is currently trying to engage with local communities protesting and demanding the project’s scrapping, along with the withdrawal of security forces.