Dhumal warns of Chinese threat after air intrusion

By Indo Asian News Service

Shimla, March 22 (IANS) Himachal Pradesh Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal Thursday hit out at China after two Chinese helicopters reportedly sneaked into Indian airspace.
He said he had been warning the central government about Chinese intentions for a long time.
"This is warning signal and the Indian government is conveniently ignoring it. If such situation continues, it could land the country into serious trouble," Dhumal said.
The issue was raised by legislator Ram Lal Markandey, who, citing media reports, said the helicopters were spotted by the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) March 16 at Kaurik, close to the international border in the Spiti Valley.
"Sometime it's (China) violating the airspace and sometime objecting to road constructions in Leh (in Jammu and Kashmir). It has built ultra-modern airfields in Tibet and extended rail network up to the Tibet border.
"We could not perceive the Chinese threat in 1962 as we were enamoured by 'Hindi-Chini Bhai Bhai' (Indians, Chinese are brothers). Now the signals are very clear... We must take these seriously," said Dhumal.
The chief minister also accused China of perpetually complaining about everything India did."
"The visit of Prime Minister (Manmohan Singh) to Arunachal Pradesh and the movement of the Dalai Lama within India irks China," he said.
Dhumal said there have been reports of China strengthening its infrastructure, and it had also installed missiles in Tibet that can target any Indian city.
"I have apprised the government in this regard a number of times and requested them to strengthen the infrastructure along the border areas.
"I have met the prime minister three-four times (asking him) to take necessary measures to safeguard the state," Dhumal said.
The chief minister also said that at times, Chinese aircraft enter Indian airspace from one side and land in Pakistan.
"It is a serious issue and needs the central government's attention."
He said the government has allocated a piece of land to the Indian Air Force (IAF) for installing a radar.
Markandey, quoting media reports, said the latest intrusion at Kaurik, some 330 km from state capital Shimla, was the second of its kind in four months.

I too have been regularly warning the India Government of the dangers poised by China.
However, our corrupt central government is only interested in promoting its rule at the centre, by hook or by crook without paying any attention to the threat.
It was a Congress government at the centre in 1962 and it seems again there will be a Congress government when China will attack again