From Our Special Correspondent
NEW DELHI: India on Wednesday asserted that it is aware of massive developmental work done by China in the bordering areas including in Northeast, but at the same time dismissed apprehensions that the communist country is preparing to wage war against us.
Speaking at Lok Sabha Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh said that the policy of both the countries is to engage in dialogue on the border issues though there has not been much progress in recent times.
He categorically refuted views that China is planning to attack India and also dismissed reports that it is diverting flow of waters of Brahmaputra.
Dr. Singh assured the Lok Sabha during Question Hour that India’s borders with China “by and large remain peaceful”.
“Our government does not share the view that China plans to attack India,” he said.
The Prime Minister’s response came after Samajwadi Party leader Mulayam Singh Yadav claimed in the House that he has information that China has made preparations to attack India and has marked out areas near the borders for this purpose. He said the attacks were “imminent” and cautioned the Government of any complacency.
In the Upper House, the Minister for Defense Mr A K Antony said that special attention is being paid to Chinese infrastructure development in border regions including in Northeast. Necessary steps have been taken to address national security concerns through development of rail, roads and air fields in such areas, he said.
“Government is aware that China is developing infrastructure in border regions opposite India in Tibet and Xinjinag Autonomous Region. This includes Qinghai-Tibet railway line with proposed extension upto Xigaze and Nyingchi and development of road and airport facilities,” Antony told the Rajya Sabha.
The Prime Minister, however, maintained that he had assurance from the highest quarters that China has not stopped flow of Brahmaputra waters to India. He asserted that highest authorities in China have assured him about uninterrupted free flow of the large river which originates from Tibet and merges with ocean at Bangladesh.
Dr. Singh said that India has followed the policy of engaging in dialogue and good relations with China and underlined that the erstwhile NDA government had also continued with this policy.
In a written reply, Antony said, “Government is giving careful and special attention to development of infrastructure in border areas opposite China in order to meet our strategic and security requirements and to facilitate economic development of these areas.”
Maintaining that all developments having a bearing on India’s security are under constant watch, Antony said attention is paid for developing infrastructure in the states sharing a border with China.
“This includes the states of Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh,” he said, adding, “Security concerns are adequately addressed through development of rail, roads and forward air fields as well as the operational capabilities of the armed forces.”
Replying to a query on installation of mountain radars along the LAC, he said, “Indian Air Force (IAF) is equipped with various radars including High Power Radars and Low Level Transportable Radars for providing surveillance in the mountainous regions.”
Decisions regarding deployment of radars, including mountain radars, are based on various factors like operational requirement of IAF and security needs of the country, he said.