India denies Chinese border encroachment as Southern States summit begins

Union Minister Kiran Rijiju has officially denied reports claiming that the Chinese military encroached 60 km into Indian territory in Arunachal Pradesh. Addressing concerns regarding border security, Rijiju clarified that such claims are false and suggested that unrelated images from other regions, such as Bangladesh, are being misused to spread misinformation. He noted that while China claims certain land areas due to border disputes, India is strengthening its defense through increased patrols by the military and the Indo-Tibetan Border Police.

Separately, the 31st Southern States Chief Ministers Conference is being held in Kovalam, led by Union Home Minister Amit Shah. The summit brings together leaders from Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, and Puducherry to discuss inter-state cooperation, economic growth, water resource sharing, and crime prevention.

In a notable meeting, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister Vijay met with Amit Shah, marking their first encounter since Vijay assumed office. The summit also provides a platform for discussions on critical regional issues, such as the Kaveri water dispute between Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.