Sitharaman, Rijiju celebrate Raksha Bandhan with troops in Arunachal

As part of India's 70th Independence Day celebrations, Union Ministers Nirmala Sitharaman and Kiren Rijiju visited Tawang, a border area of Arunachal Pradesh, to celebrate Raksha Bandhan with the troops posted there, officials said on Friday.

Commerce and Industry Minister Niramala Sitharaman tied rakhis (ceremonial string sisters tie on the wrists of their brothers on Raksha Bandhan) to soldiers deployed at the Sashastra Seema Bal border outpost in Lumla, which is one of the remotest outposts on India-China border.

Raksha Bandhan was celebrated in a function at the picturesque location of Dolma Lakhang where Sitharaman tied rakhis to the army and paramilitary personnel.

In her morale-boosting address to the men in uniform, Sitharaman spoke of her visit to Tawang War Memorial, terming it as an emotional one and thanked the forces for their umpteen sacrifices for nation.

Assuring of her cooperation in all the matters related to the development of the area, she said the interest of Arunachal Pradesh was a priority and that the government was fully committed to the development of the region.

Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju apprised the gathering about the plans chalked out by the government to mark the 70th year of Independence.

He said the same was being done to pay tribute to the martyrs of Indian freedom struggle and also to boost the morale of the forces and contact the masses residing in the border areas.

Rijiju also assured restoration of damaged roads and improving connectivity wherever required apart from taking up the issue of the restoration of damages caused in the landslides.

Rijiju, along with noted playback singer Asha Bhosle, also visited Bomdila in Arunachal Pradesh and celebrated the festival with the army soldiers.

--IANS

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