In an effort to strengthen the coordination between the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) and the five states along the Indo-China border, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh will chair a meeting of the chief ministers of the states–Jammu and Kashmir, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh on Saturday in Gangtok.
“This is the first time such a meeting is being held by the MHA. The objective of the meeting is to strengthen the coordination of MHA with the five States on Indo-China Border to improve the overall border security as states are also partners in security of the borders,” a Home Ministry statement said.
The Home Ministry's move came days after India refused to participate in China's One Belt, One Road conference in Beijing and a month after the diplomatic tussle over the Dalai Lama's visit to Arunachal Pradesh.
Singh will also discuss the border infrastructure work undertaken by the MHA and assess coordination issues between the states and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police (ITBP).
The Home minister is likely to visit the Nathula Pass and ITBP border post at Lachung to meet the Jawans of the force.
On Sunday, Rajnath will visit the Sashastra Seema Bal Battalion Headquarters and also take an aerial survey of the SSB border posts at Uttarey, Kumukh and Bajrajadhara on Indo-Nepal Border.
The Home minister will interact with jawans at a Sainik Sammelan at Geyzing and will later attend a civic action programme at Pelling in Sikkim.
(With inputs from agencies)