Kiren Rijiju interacts with Chinese soldiers near Arunachal’s Tawang

Kiren Rijiju celebrates Diwali with jawans (Image: Kiren Rijiju/ X)

Union minister Kiren Rijiju on November 1 interacted with soldiers of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) near Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh along the Sino-Indian border. He interacted with the Chinese soldiers during a visit to an Indian Army post on the occasion of Diwali.

Rijiju also celebrated Diwali with Army jawans posted in Bumla, Arunachal Pradesh, on October 31.

The union minister posted a video on X, formerly Twitter, where he could be seen talking to three PLA soldiers with the help of an interpreter. He asked them how they were managing while being posted in such a high-altitude area which is located 15,000 feet above sea level.

Rijiju also praised the kind of infrastructure built and other development works being carried out by the government along the international border.

“After talking to Chinese soldiers and seeing the infrastructures, everyone will feel proud of India's border development now,” he said.

After talking to Chinese soldiers and seeing the infrastructures, everyone will feel proud of India's border development now.Celebrated Diwali at Bumla with our Army Jawans in Arunachal Pradesh. #HappyDeepavali2024 #Diwali pic.twitter.com/l17nwI4KYa
Kiren Rijiju (@KirenRijiju) November 1, 2024

"Since you are far away from home during Diwali, we have also decided to be away from home and spend time with you," Rijiju said.

He also cut a cake and shared it with the jawans, most of whom were from Himachal Pradesh and Punjab.

Rijiju's interaction with the PLA soldiers came about 10 days after Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri said that an agreement was finalised between India and China for a resolution of the issues that arose in 2020. The agreement was firmed up on patrolling and disengagement of troops along the LAC in eastern Ladakh, a breakthrough to end the over four-year standoff.

According to Army sources, the Indian Army began patrolling at Demchok on Friday, days after Indian and Chinese troops completed disengagement at the two friction points in eastern Ladakh.

The move marks a significant development in the pursuit of reduced tension along the LAC in eastern Ladakh since the fierce clash in the Galwan Valley in June 2020 that marked the most serious military conflict between the two sides in decades. The ties between the two Asian giants had nosedived following the clash.

(With PTI inputs)