With an eye clearly on China, the UPA government announced a slew of measures for speedier development of the border state of Arunachal Pradesh.
The announcement coincided with the 25th anniversary of statehood for Arunachal Pradesh, which Prime Minister Manmohan Singh described as “Our Land of the Rising Sun.” These measures are aimed at boosting the state’s infrastructure development and the creation of jobs.
The announcement was made by Defense Minister A.K. Antony in Itanagar, the capital of Arunachal Pradesh, while kicking off five days of celebrations. Notably, Antony stressed the importance of a secure, non-porous international border in Arunachal Pradesh.
“Non-porous” is the key here. India has open borders with neighbors like Nepal and Bhutan, while India’s border with Bangladesh has been a matter of concern for decades, largely because it remains porous despite India’s best efforts. By stressing the fact that India wants Arunachal’s international border to be “non-porous,” Antony has pointed a finger at the sensitive nature of this northeastern state, which China describes as “South Tibet” and claims in its entirety.