In Tawang, Rajnath delivers Dussehra message to China

Defence minister Rajnath Singh on Tuesday visited forward posts near the contested border with China in Arunachal Pradesh and assessed the operational preparedness of the armed forces deployed in the sensitive sector amid a military standoff with the neighbour in Ladakh for three-and-a-half years.

- Utpal Parashar

Singh was in the north-eastern state, which China claims as its territory, to spend Dussehra with the troops deployed there, participated in a “shastra pooja” (worship of weapons) near the war memorial in Tawang.

The gesture sends a strong message to the neighbouring country, which routinely objects to Indian leaders visiting the border state. Beijing did not immediately react to Singh’s Arunachal Pradesh visit.

Singh, who began his two-day visit to Assam and Arunachal Pradesh on Monday, was accompanied by Indian Army chief General Manoj Pande, Eastern Army commander Lieutenant General RP Kalita, GOC 4 Corps Lieutenant General Manish Erry, and other senior officers.

“People have realised that we are not only growing as an economic power, but the same trajectory is seen in our defence capabilities as well,” Singh said while addressing the soldiers.

The eastern sector is prone to face-offs between Indian and Chinese troops.

A clash between them in December 2022 in Tawang’s Yangtse area put the spotlight on the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Arunachal Pradesh. Back then, Indian soldiers prevented Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) troops from transgressing into Indian territory and compelled them to return to their posts.