Northeastern states interest were always kept in mind says Rajnath Singh

“At the recent ASEAN Summit in Bangkok, our PM took a very important decision that India will not be part of RCEP. This is not a small thing,” said Singh

Arunachal Pradesh: Prime Minister Narendra Modi Keeping in mind India’s economic interests, decided to stay out of RCEP especially of northeastern states, said Defence Minister Rajnath Singh on Friday.

Singh also said that if India had joined the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP), farmers, labourers and industries would have been largely affected.

“At the recent ASEAN Summit in Bangkok, our PM took a very important decision that India will not be part of RCEP. This is not a small thing,” said Singh. The 200-metre long permanent bridge connects the Siang Valley and the Dibang Valley in the state of Arunachal Pradesh.

Rajnath Singh said “Keeping in mind India’s economic interests, especially the economic interests of the northeast, the prime minister Narendra Modi took this decision. Everyone should welcome this decision”.

After negotiations, India had pulled out of the China-backed mega RCEP over unresolved “core concerns”, with PM Modi saying in Bangkok that the proposed deal would have an adverse impact on the lives and livelihoods of all Indians.

Singh said, “the prime minister has said we will participate in RCEP at the right moment and it won’t be as a small partner but only as a big partner. India will be a partner at the same level.”

“Farmers, labourers, factories and industries would have got affected if India joined the RCEP. This is a huge decision. In this decision, the northeast’s interests were always kept in mind,” he added.

The defence minister Rajnath Singh said the central government has started several infrastructure projects in Arunachal Pradesh and no part of the state will be isolated like “Kala Pani”.