Arunachal: BRO draws flak for misrepresenting Kimin as part of Assam; Rijiju reacts to ‘gross mistake’

The Border Roads Organisation’s error of representing an administrative headquarters Kimin in Arunachal Pradesh as a part of Assam has drawn flaks from various quarters, including Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Kiren Rijiju.

Terming it as a “gross mistake” Union Minister for Sports and Youth Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Monday said that the BRO has committed a mistake which needs urgent rectification.

“A serious mistake was committed by the BRO during the inauguration of 11 new and old widened roads in Arunachal Pradesh by mentioning Kimin as Assam. The matter came to my notice after the event and I’ve immediately conveyed to BRO for urgent rectification of mistake which happened without the knowledge of Defence Minister and Arunachal government,” Rijiu said in a social media post.

The Union Minister was reacting to the recent developments, wherein Kimin, which is an ADC headquarters in Arunachal’s Papum Pare district, was referenced by the BRO as a part of Assam during Defence Minister Rajnath Singh’s visit to the town to inaugurate 12 border roads built by the organization.

Rijiju said that the gross mistake would not affect an inch of the territorial status of Arunachal.

Arunachal Pradesh shares around 716 km of inter-state boundary with Assam.

He further added that Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Pema Khandu and Assam chief Dr Himanta Biswa Sarma will meet soon for better coordination to avoid any local land disputes.

Meanwhile, condemning the incident, Arunachal Pradesh MP Tapir Gao said that several sign boards displaying Arunachal’s name were covered with white paste during the event which was an insult not just for the people of Kimin but for the entire State.