Northeast is India's first frontier, not its last, says Rajnath Singh

Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Saturday, November 7, called the Northeast India's "first frontier" rather than its last, as he reviewed the Army's readiness along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Sikkim on the eve of Diwali.

Speaking to troops at a Bada Khana at Sukna Military Station near Siliguri, Singh said the region added a distinct dimension to India's identity through its natural beauty, biodiversity, cultural diversity and traditions, news agency ANI reported.

"I do not view the North East as the last frontier of India, but rather as the first frontier of the nation," he said, adding that the region's contribution to India's geography, culture and civilisation was "immensely significant".

Review at 33 Corps

At Sukna, headquarters of the Army's 33 Corps, also known as Trishakti Corps, Singh was briefed on border infrastructure along the LAC in Sikkim and on the deployment of advanced equipment and emerging technologies, Hindustan Times reported.

Army chief General Dhiraj Seth, Eastern Army Commander Lieutenant General VMB Krishnan and corps commander Lieutenant General Man Raj Singh Mann were present.

Singh described Sukna as more than a military station, calling it a vital link in the security architecture of eastern India and a hub for moving supplies, weapons, food, medical stores and personnel to forward posts. Because the area is geographically sensitive, troops had to stay operationally ready at all times, he said.

Warning on new kinds of threats

Singh said the nature of security challenges had changed, with hybrid warfare, cyberattacks, drones, infiltration and information warfare now happening at the same time.

Earlier, at Air Force Station Bagdogra, he asked air warriors to strengthen cyber resilience and domain awareness. He warned that an adversary might use social media to sow doubt among local people and soldiers through misleading information, Hindustan Times reported. IAF chief Air Chief Marshal Ashutosh Dixit was present there.

Singh called Bagdogra a crucial link in India's security framework, especially for the Northeast. Bagdogra and Sukna both lie in the Siliguri Corridor, the narrow strip of land that connects the eight northeastern states to the rest of the country.

Sherathang visit

Singh was scheduled to visit the Sherathang war memorial in Sikkim on Diwali to pay tribute to soldiers killed in the 1967 Nathu La and Cho La clashes with China, Hindustan Times said.

Separately, NEInsider reported earlier on Sunday that the Army had rejected social media claims of a Chinese incursion into Arunachal Pradesh.