Even as the Centre continues to downplay reports of alleged Chinese incursions into Indian territory, it has become a hot poll issue in the frontier state of Arunachal Pradesh which is heading for Assembly elections on October 13. Leading the campaign is Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, who has emphasised on India countering alleged Chinese threats through rapid economic and infrastructural development in the border areas.

“I don’t think China can afford to go for a war with us. China’s sole intention, I believe, is to weaken India on all fronts and prove itself as an economic superpower in the region,” Khandu told The Indian Express, adding that China wants to engage India in increasing its defence expenditure at the cost of the economy to further this goal.

The Congress chief minister has been seeking votes by claiming that it was his government that provided 100-kw small hydel generators that have lit up about 400 villages along the international boundary. “We are also pressing for more roads along the border. This will not only improve connectivity but also make troops’ movement better,” he said.

Khandu is also using the Chinese threat issue to draw the attention of the state’s unemployed youth. “I have been telling the Centre to recruit more local boys into the Army. This will help overcome language problems apart from improving the intelligence network,” he said.

If Dorjee Khandu is using China as an election issue, so is the BJP. “China’s repeated claim over Arunachal Pradesh and the Centre’s meek response to it does not go down well with the Arunachalees. A sense of insecurity has engulfed the Arunachalees living in areas bordering China,” said the BJP’s 16-page election manifesto for the Assembly polls.

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