Downplaying the threat perception from China and its collaboration with Pakistan in defence areas, the Centre today said India is not alarmed as it is upgrading and modernising its security and defence setups.
"Pakistan and China collaborating in various fields including security and defence does not alarm us at all. We are building and upgrading our security and defence setups to deal with any situation", minister of state for defence MM Pallam Raju told reporters after inaugurating Lauki Khad Bridge on Aknoor border belt, 58 Kms from here today.
Claiming that the armed forces are being continously upgraded in terms of weapons, he said the country needs to focus on its own preparations and strengthening its own security setup to tackle any eventuality.
On China's infrastructure build-up across Arunachal Pradesh, he said, "We are taking positive measures. We have upgraded our airbases and increased surveillance by troops in the region."
Replying to a question on China's claim over Arunachal Pradesh, Raju said the two countries have already held talks to settle the issue amicably.
Making a mention of the good trade relations between the two countries at present, the Union minister said both India and China want to focus on positive aspects of their ties.
Noting that infiltration from across the border in Jammu and Kashmir continues, he accused Pakistan of refusing to mend its ways but expressed satisfaction over the way infiltrators are being dealt with by the security forces. Khandela said a special road construction programme has been initiated by the ministry which envisages upgradation and construction of about 10,000km roads in the North eastern states. "Meghalaya is the biggest beneficiary of this programme," he said.
Special Accelerated Road Development Programme for NE envisages improvement of all national highways of Meghalaya to at least 2-lane standards and to also provide 2-lane connectivity to all district headquarters, he said.
The minister also claimed that under the "regular scheme" for improvement of the roads, the expenditure has risen consistently from merely Rs10 to Rs15 crore per year about five years back to touch about Rs50 crore last year.
Meghalaya PWD minister (roads) MM Danggo explored the need for opening of at least two more integrated check gates in the Indo-Bangladesh border for smooth transaction of border trade between the two countries.
He stressed that the trucks should adhere to the load capacity so that the road and the bridge is not affected.
