Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu has said that times are different now than in 1962 and that the people of the state and the Indian army will never back down, no matter how many times China tries to claim the territory as its own.
Khandu spoke on a program Friday at Bum La, a crossing on the Indo-Tibet border in the northeastern state, to honor a soldier who died fighting in the 1962 India-China war.
“This is not 1962, but 2020, and things are different now. From Jammu and Kashmir to Arunachal Pradesh, we are fully prepared. If necessary, the people of Arunachal will not hesitate to support the Indian army, ”he said.
China does not recognize Arunachal Pradesh as an Indian state but as part of southern Tibet, a claim that has been roundly rejected by India.
Speaking about the changes in the last six decades since 1962, the prime minister said that infrastructure development along the border areas has received a major boost under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
“The development of border areas, especially roads, is important. It is happening at full speed in Arunachal Pradesh and we will soon see several infrastructure renovations of this type in the state, ”he said. Khandu was in Bum La to pay tribute to Subedar Joginder Singh on his 58th anniversary of death. He recalled the supreme sacrifice of Singh, who gave his life fighting the Chinese army in the Indochina War of 1962.
Singh, who was a subedar in the 1st Battalion of the Sikh Regiment, was in command of a platoon at Bum La in the then Northeast Frontier Agency, now Arunachal Pradesh.
“Fighting against all odds, Subedar Singh achieved martyrdom on this day during the India-China War of 1962. The people of Arunachal salute his bravery and will always remember the supreme sacrifice he made for the nation,” Khandu said.
Although outnumbered, Singh had led his troops against a Chinese assault and defended his post until he was wounded and captured. He died from his injuries while in Chinese custody and is believed to have single-handedly killed several Chinese soldiers and created history in the annals of the Indian army.
He was posthumously awarded the Param Vir Chakra, the country’s highest military gallantry award, in 1962.
Singh’s daughter Kulwant Kaur unveiled a newly built war memorial in her father’s name on the show.
The monument has been built by the Arunachal Pradesh government just below the famous IB Ridge to commemorate Singh’s heroic defense against the Chinese People’s Liberation Army.
.
