China poses security challenge to India: Joshi

Guwahati, Nov 10: Warning that China was posing a threat to India's security by deploying nuclear missiles close to the Sino-Indian border, BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi today lashed out at the Centre for not been able to build strong logistics on the frontier.

"China is a challenge to India. Chinese preparations on the other side of the border throw a challenge to Indian development efforts in its frontiers," Joshi told reporters here.

"China has surrounded India from three sides. Along the northern border, the Chinese air and land forces are well equipped with hardware and capable of launching even nuclear missiles," the former union minister said.

The northern and the north-east flanks specially are unsafe and highly insecure. In the northeast, the defence programme and infrastructure facilities are not up to the mark, he said.

"I have seen that the national highways connecting the northeastern region from the defence point of view are not good with some of them being in shambles.

"In the northern border China has already occupied large parts of the Siachin. Chinese forces come and make their presence felt in Ladakh and now in Pak Occupied Kashmir (POK)," Joshi said.

Their forces stay in POK. This is a serious threat to the northern border. Besides, China obtains rights to use Gwadar seaport in Pakistan and is able to reach out to the Arabian Sea coast, he said.

Joshi said the Centre had not been able to provide strong logistics for safety and security of the country.

"I demand that the government come out before Parliament about the level of preparedness on the borders. The government must assure the people that it is taking adequate steps for the country's safety and security," the BJP leader said.

The BJP MP said, "China has also invested huge amount of money for a seaport in the southern corner of Sri Lanka and, therby make its pressence felt in the Indian Ocean.

"China recently objected to Indian pressence along Vietnam sea ports and also does not want us to take part in the oil explorations there. They have also stopped Indian ships from reaching there."

Joshi said the country "must learn from past experiences about Chinese designs in these areas. No stone should be left unturned for development and security".

The urgent task is to step up development activities on a war footing in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam and other north eastern states, he said.

To a querry on whether the country's defence budget was adequate for ensuring its safety and security, he said the government must find out wheather it was sufficient for a good naval force and coast guards, effective armed and air forces with equipment.

"A scientific analysis has to be made of the weaknesses and then fill up the gaps."

PTI