New Delhi, Aug 2026 : Union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday said the Narendra Modi-led government has made development of infrastructure in India’s remote border areas a top priority, asserting that regions that were neglected for decades are now witnessing major connectivity and infrastructure projects.
Rijiju made the remarks while sharing a video on X from his recent visit to the strategically important border areas of Maza, Galemo and Taksing in Arunachal Pradesh. The video showed road construction work, heavy machinery operating in difficult terrain, interactions between the Minister and security personnel, and the rugged Himalayan landscape along India’s frontier with China.
Emphasising the importance of infrastructure in border regions, Rijiju said the difficult geographical conditions could not be an excuse for neglecting these strategically important areas. He said the government was working to improve roads and connectivity while simultaneously strengthening the presence of security forces.
“Some people casually commented on border. Border areas are tough but Narendra Modi govt is committed to border development. I went to Maza, Galemo, Taksing areas in Arunachal Pradesh to speed up infrastructure works. Borders were neglected in the past but it's top priority now,” Rijiju posted on X.
His remarks came amid a political debate over allegations by Opposition leaders, including Lok Sabha Leader of Opposition Rahul Gandhi, regarding Chinese activity and alleged incursions along India’s eastern frontier.
Rijiju, mentioned on Wednesday, rejected allegations that the Centre had concealed information about Chinese intrusion or failed to protect Indian territory. He argued that the situation in Arunachal Pradesh needed to be understood in the context of the historical absence of a formally demarcated India-China boundary in several stretches.
According to Rijiju, the lack of clearly marked boundaries has contributed to recurring tensions and confusion among communities living in remote border areas.
“India and China share a very long border in Arunachal Pradesh that has not been formally delineated. There are no border pillars, and the boundary is not clearly marked on the ground; there is no distinct border line,” he said.
The Minister maintained that the concerns expressed by villagers living near the frontier were genuine and should not be dismissed. At the same time, he cautioned against circulating unverified videos or making claims without understanding the complex ground situation.
“It is wrong for people to spread confusion by sharing various videos. There is indeed an issue regarding the border. Some villagers in Arunachal Pradesh have expressed concerns about the border, and rightly so, because the boundary has not been delineated there,” Rijiju said.
He said the region’s challenging terrain had historically limited permanent habitation in several locations, with many areas traditionally used for hunting and grazing rather than permanent settlements. The absence of demarcation, he argued, had contributed to long-standing tensions between India and China.
Rijiju also linked the border situation to infrastructure development, alleging that China had invested heavily in roads and other facilities along its side of the frontier while previous Indian governments had adopted a more cautious approach to construction close to the border.
Taking aim at the Congress-led governments, he referred to a statement attributed to former Defence Minister A.K. Antony during the UPA era regarding the government's approach to border infrastructure.
“At that time, the Congress was in power in India. A.K. Antony, the then Defence Minister under the Congress government, stated in Parliament that it was the government's policy not to build infrastructure on the Indian side. Meanwhile, China continued to develop infrastructure steadily,” Rijiju said.
He said the policy changed after the BJP-led NDA government came to power in 2014, with greater emphasis being placed on roads, bridges and connectivity in strategically important border areas.
Rijiju cited his visit to Maza as an example of the change. He said the village, located near the last accessible point on the border, had received road connectivity under the Modi government.
“I personally visited Maza, a village located at the last border point. I met with border force personnel and soldiers there. The road construction work was completed. No road had been built at the border in all the years since 1947; under PM Modi's leadership, we got the road constructed,” he said.
He also highlighted road connectivity to Taksing, saying the government had undertaken infrastructure projects to improve access to remote frontier areas. According to Rijiju, road construction has become particularly important because of the extensive infrastructure developed by China along its side.
“We previously lacked a road connection. PM Modi had the road to Taksing built in 2019. Because we lacked a road while China had built one, the Chinese army occupied certain high-altitude areas and constructed border infrastructure; we are now responding by building our own infrastructure,” he said.
At the same time, Rijiju rejected the assertion that China had simply occupied Indian villages. He said several areas remain disputed because the boundary has not been clearly demarcated.
“It is not the case that they have occupied any of our villages. They have set up camp on a certain stretch of land because the boundary there is not demarcated,” he said, adding that both sides have competing perceptions regarding the extent of their respective territories.
The Minister said the government had also strengthened patrolling by the Indian Army and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police in sensitive frontier areas.
Rijiju referred specifically to an area beyond Longju where, according to him, the Chinese People's Liberation Army has established structures. He said the area had been under Chinese control since 1959 and that its position was further consolidated in 1962.
“Regarding the village that has been established, located in a valley beyond Longju, the Chinese PLA has constructed some structures and buildings resembling a village. That land was occupied in 1959, and they further consolidated their hold over it in 1962,” he said.
He acknowledged that Chinese military activity along the ridgeline had increased and said the concerns of local residents should be taken seriously.
“We have a post at the current border point. While there is no cross-border movement between India and China at that specific location, Chinese military activity has certainly increased along the ridgeline. This has heightened the concerns of our villagers, and we must take their apprehensions seriously,” Rijiju said.
However, he accused the Congress of using misleading material to create a political narrative around the border issue. He particularly criticised the circulation of what he described as a fake video allegedly originating from Bangladesh.
“Spreading such narratives by circulating a fake video, purportedly from Bangladesh, is wrong. Doing so undermines the morale of the armed forces,” Rijiju said.
The Minister's comments underline the government's broader emphasis on border infrastructure as part of national security and regional development. Improved roads and connectivity are intended not only to facilitate the movement of security forces but also to provide better access to remote communities and integrate frontier areas more closely with the rest of the country.
Rijiju's visit to Maza, Galemo and Taksing therefore comes against the backdrop of an ongoing effort to accelerate infrastructure construction along the Arunachal Pradesh frontier. The government has repeatedly argued that stronger connectivity and development in border areas are essential for both national security and the welfare of residents living in some of India's most remote regions.
