India not in infra race with China: BRO chief
NEW DELHI: India is not competing with China to develop its forward infrastructure along the 3,488 km Line of Actual Control (LAC) and is driven solely by its long-term strategic goals, the military’s requirements and economic aspirations of people living in the country’s farthest frontiers, Border Roads Organisation chief Lieutenant General Raghu Srinivasan said on Tuesday.
“Drawing a comparison with China is an argument that doesn’t hold merit the way we look at things,” he said in an interview. “Infrastructure development is not a head-to-head contest and India’s overarching plan for its border areas is based on a clear strategic vision.”
The BRO chief’s comments are significant as he has sought to decouple India’s forward infrastructure push from the Chinese thrust on developing its border areas at a time when the two countries are locked in a dragging military standoff in eastern Ladakh. Both nations have ploughed billions into building infrastructure to strengthen their military capabilities since the LAC row erupted almost four years ago.
India’s infrastructure push must meet its needs and the Chinese approach is irrelevant as the requirements of both countries are different, Srinivasan said. “As far as infrastructure development goes, it’s not the same as the scale of deployment of men and weaponry in that theatre. If he (China) has 100 battalions, do I also have 100, or if he has deployed 100 tanks, am I matching that number? That (question) is not for me as I must focus on building infrastructure that meets my needs. He will do what he has to do based on his needs,” he said. Srinivasan distanced himself from frequent attempts from several quarters to compare the strides taken by both countries towards building border infrastructure as a necessary enabler of stronger military posture, and declare China far ahead in the race.