by Bhupen Goswami

Guwahati : Defence Minister Rajnath Singh is on a two-day visit to Assam today. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated the Kimin-Potin Road at Lakhimpur in Assam on Thursday. This inaugural event took place in Bilgarh. The double-lane 20 km road constructed by BRO will facilitate installation of proposed industrial belt in Arunachal Pradesh. The road will also serve as the main artery from Assam to lower Subansiri district. Inaugurating the road projects, Rajnath Singh said, “Two days ago, a year has passed since the incident in Galwan Valley. The bravery and valour that our jawans showed and their martyrdom and the protection of India’s borders is less appreciated. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said, “North East is of great strategic importance, its geography is unique.

These roads are important in terms of development as well as security. After coming to power in Assam, the BJP-led government is trying to increase connectivity in the region through major road projects launched recently. BRO has played a key role in the country’s prosperity by developing roads, tunnels and other infrastructure in rural places and inaccessible areas across the country. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh inaugurated 12 new roads dedicated to the nation across the northern and eastern borders. Out of 12 roads, one road has been constructed in Union Territory of Ladakh, one in Jammu and Kashmir and 10 in Arunachal Pradesh. Rajnath Singh said the North East has not developed for a long time. Now the way the North East has developed under pm Modi’s leadership is less appreciated. The Defence Minister further said that the sector is of great importance.

The area borders many countries. The inauguration of these roads will greatly benefit the people living here. Singh said it is part of the Modi government’s ‘Act East Policy’ under which the government is giving a lot of emphasis on the overall development of border areas. Several important bridges and road construction works have been completed in the border States. Rajnath further said that bro’s budget has been increased by three to four times to develop road projects and other infrastructure during the last seven years. The security situation here has improved phenomenally in the last seven years.

The insurgency related incidents have declined by 85 per cent, and the casualty of civilians and security forces has come down considerably. Rajnath further said that today the reach of farmers of this state has increased not only to the country but also to abroad. You may know that a short distance from here, there is a fruit in the Subansiri area, called ‘Anteri’. People ate it a little by themselves, and put the rest of the animals. The Indian Army has sacrificed its valour by showing its valour. I salute his valour and memory.