Home minister Rajnath Singh talks tough to China, says no country can threaten India

NEW DELHI: Home Minister Rajnath Singh has shrugged off China's strong reaction to India's plans to construct a road network along the McMahon line in Arunachal Pradesh, saying no country can give a warning to India as it has emerged as a strong country in the world.

"Today, no country can give warning to India. India has emerged as a strong country in the world. As far as India-China border issue is concerned, I think China should sit with India and resolve this issue," the minister said at an event organised by the National Security Guard on Thursday, a day after China objected to India building a road along the border.

China's reaction came after the minister of state for home Kiren Rijiju made public the government's plans earlier this week to construct a road along the McMahon line.

Speaking at the event, NSG chief JN Choudhury warned that ISIS and al-Qaeda could join hands and launch a "multi-city multiple attack" on India. "Now that they (al-Qaeda) have declared their intention of attacking India, they will obviously align with known groups that we have (active in the country)… whether it is Lashkar, Jaish ( Jaish-e-Mohammad), Harkat (Harkat-ul-Mujahideen) or IM," he said.

India needs to stay prepared, he said, adding, "Then there is a threat and possibility of a multi-city multiple attack. The 26/11 attacks may have been just a curtain-raiser."

Choudhury later said at a press conference that NSG wants to cut down its VVIP security responsibilities from 15 protectees at present to "not more than 11 protectees".