BrahMos deployment: India well within its rights to protect its sovereignty, borders, says Cong

With China warning India against the deployment of BrahMos in Arunachal Pradesh,the Congress Party on Tuesday said India is well within its rights to protect its sovereignty and to exercise all means necessary to see that its borders and frontiers are protected.

"After all, India is well within its rights to protect its sovereignty, to exercise all the means which are necessary in order to see that its borders and frontiers are protected. China or any other country should not really have a problem with this," said Congress leader Manish Tewari.

"Well, decisions to deploy tactical weapons are taken keeping the overall strategic situation in mind, therefore, if the Indian establishment in its wisdom feels that there is a need for a tactical deployment," he added.

Earlier, Congress leader Tom Vadakkan told ANI the Chinese are worried when your defences are up.

"And I think these are the kind of mechanisms that the Government of India must operate and this also should be applicable to Pakistan because when the neighbour comes to know that you are capable of hitting and at your time and your call, I think that sets the agenda," said Vadakkan.

"And I think that is lacking and that's what if we are doing is good, but if we are going to be scared by the Chinese or the Pakistanis, I think that would be a sad day," he added.

China has warned that such a move would have "a negative influence" on stability along the border.

Earlier this month, the Cabinet Committee on Security, chaired by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, cleared the raising of a new regiment to be equipped with an advanced version of the BrahMos developed for mountain warfare at a cost of more than Rs. 4,300 crore.

The new regiment will be deployed in Arunachal Pradesh. There have been several standoffs between the Indian and Chinese troops along the Line of Actual Control in recent years.