Though Rijiju did not name any country, his reference was obviously China after Beijing reacted strongly against the Centre's plan to construct a road along the border in Arunachal Pradesh.
Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of Northeast Infrastructure Conclave organized by PHD chamber here, Rijiju said India has every right to construct roads in remote areas within its territory even if the location is close to any international border.
"The roads in border areas are for the benefit of indigenous people and India. The roads are within Indian territory and no country should have any objection to it. We are free to carry out development work within our territory," Rijiju said.
The minister said the government would go ahead with the construction of 'frontier highways' in border areas.
On ushering in investment-conducive climate in the northeast, Rijiju said the time has come to change the mindset of people in the region. "Today, most parts of the region are affected by the bandh culture. There are ethnic conflicts. Perhaps, no state in the country has so many students' organizations. There are long and protracted demands which keep surfacing frequently," he said.
Assam and Meghalaya chief ministers Tarun Gogoi and Mukul Sangma also attended the conclave.
"The fact that the protracted demands have remained unaddressed shows that successive governments in the region have failed to thrash out a solution. The respective state governments must admit this reality. New Delhi will always support the positive initiatives in the northeast," Rijiju added.
http://ift.tt/1pFzfQ4 Infrastructure Conclave,Kiren Rijiju
Stay updated on the go with The Times of India’s mobile apps. Click here to download it for your device.
0 comments:
Post a Comment