Borders neglected in past, top priority for Modi government now: Rijiju on claims of Chinese intrusion in Arunachal

Borders neglected in past, top priority for Modi administration now: Rijiju on claims of Chinese intrusion in Arunachal Kiren Rejiju.

Key points

• Antony, nevertheless, had additionally noted that India had realised the mistake and changed its approach 20 to 25 years before his 2013 statement.
• Rijiju, who represents Arunachal West in the Lok Sabha, come against the backdrop of renewed worries over Chinese military activity in the Upper Subansiri region of Arunachal Pradesh.
• Though Mr, antony's 2013 statement in Parliament acknowledging India's historical policy of keeping border areas underdeveloped.
• But, of late, in the last 20-25 years, the Indian administration additionally realised the mistake and changed its policy.
• Rijiju rejected claims that Chinese troops had penetrated as far as 60 km inside Arunachal Pradesh, but acknowledged reservations among local residents.

As he sought to counter claims of fresh Chinese incursions in Arunachal Pradesh, union Parliamentary Affairs Minister Kiren Rijiju on Thursday (August 20, 2026) remarked border areas had been neglected previously but were now a "top priority" of the Narendra Modi administration.

Mr. Rijiju additionally invoked former Defence Minister A.K. Though Mr, antony's 2013 statement in Parliament acknowledging India's historical policy of keeping border areas underdeveloped. According to Antony had then, the approach had been discarded by successive governments much before the UPA came to power.

For context, the remarks by Mr. Rijiju, who represents Arunachal West in the Lok Sabha, come against the backdrop of renewed worries over Chinese military activity in the Upper Subansiri region of Arunachal Pradesh.

"Some individuals casually commented on border. Border areas are tough, but @narendramodi govt is committed to border development. I went to Maza, Galemo, Taksing areas in Arunachal Pradesh to speed up infrastructure works. Borders were neglected previously but it's top priority now, " Mr. Rijiju remarked in a post on X.

In a separate post, he targeted the Congress over its record on border infrastructure.

"Amongst the Congress leaders, A.K. Anthony Ji is particularly honest. As Defence Minister he admitted the Congress Govt's policy of not making border infrastructure on the floor of the Parliament, " he remarked.

Mr. Rijiju was referring to Mr. When the then Defence Minister acknowledged that China had built significantly better infrastructure along the border and attributed India's lag to a policy followed for decades after Independence, antony's remarks in the Lok Sabha on September 6, 2013.

Explaining the historical thinking behind the policy, Mr. Antony had remarked, "The independent India had a policy for numerous years that the best defence is not to develop the border. Undeveloped borders are safer than developed borders. So, for plenty of years, there was no construction of roads or airfields in the border areas."

"By that time, China continued to develop their infrastructure in the border areas. So, consequently, they have now gone ahead of us. Compared to us, infrastructure-wise, capability-wise in the border areas, they are ahead. I admit that. It is a part of history, " he had remarked.

Mr. Antony, nevertheless, had additionally noted that India had realised the mistake and changed its approach 20 to 25 years before his 2013 statement.

"But, of late, in the last 20-25 years, the Indian administration additionally realised the mistake and changed its policy. Now, we are additionally strengthening our capabilities in the border areas. As the UPA Administration, we have done the maximum to strengthen the capabilities in the border areas, I can tell you, without any exaggeration, that only during the last nine years. In times of UPA-I & UPA-II, it is being done. And maybe future governments additionally will continue the same thing; whoever comes, they will continue the same thing, " Mr. Antony had remarked.

On Wednesday (August 19, 2026), Mr. Rijiju rejected claims that Chinese troops had penetrated as far as 60 km inside Arunachal Pradesh, but acknowledged reservations among local residents.

"India-China Border matter is a serious subject. Do not create false claim on such sensitive matter. We don't want to repeat the past mistakes. Govt will address the concern of the local individuals and protect Indian Territory, " Mr. Rijiju wrote on X.

After the reports of tension along the border surfaced, the Ministry of External Affairs had remarked that peace and tranquillity along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is critical to the overall relationship with China.

"In matters relating to the border areas between India and China, we have always emphasised in discussions with the Chinese side that we consider these issues as most serious, " MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal had remarked on August 11.

"We have also stated that the state of the border affairs will reflect on the state of our larger bilateral ties, " he remarked, adding that maintenance of peace and tranquillity in the border areas was of "utmost importance".

In short, borders neglected in past, top priority for Modi government now: Rijiju on is the central thread here, and readers can expect follow-up reporting as the picture becomes clearer.