China poses security challenge to India: Murli Manohar Joshi

GUWAHATI: 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.