OUR CORRESPONDENT
ITANAGAR: Arunachal Pradesh MP Tapir Gao has renewed his warning over alleged Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) incursions along the frontier, saying concerns he had raised in Parliament in 2019 were not taken seriously at the time.
The remarks came against the backdrop of a recent controversy over alleged Chinese activities in the remote Taksing sector of Arunachal Pradesh's Upper Subansiri district, which has once again brought the sensitive border issue into sharp focus.
Reiterating that Arunachal Pradesh is an "integral and inalienable part of India", the Eastern Arunachal MP said the country's sovereignty was non-negotiable and that while India stands for peace, dialogue and friendship, these cannot come at the cost of territorial integrity.
"I raised the issue of Chinese PLA incursions in Arunachal Pradesh during the Parliament session in 2019, but unfortunately, people took it lightly. Some even argued that raising such concerns was discouraging for the Indian Army," Gao said in a social media post
The MP said he had earlier flagged what he described as Chinese intrusions or occupation of areas in several sensitive sectors of the state.
Gao had referred to alleged activities dating back to 1984-85 in areas including the Chamdrung Chu valley in Tawang, Longju, Bisa, Original Maza and Asapila in Upper Subansiri, besides the Andrela valley and Andrela Pass in Dibang Valley and areas around Glaitakru and Hadigra passes in Anjaw district.
The senior BJP MP said the renewed public concern over the frontier was a reminder that warnings from local communities and public representatives should not be brushed aside.
He also stressed the need to ensure that people living in border villages have access to their traditional lands and properties, saying a strong civilian presence in the frontier was important for the country's security and territorial interests.
"Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India. Its sovereignty is non-negotiable," the MP asserted, adding that India stood for peace, dialogue and friendship, but not at the cost of its territorial integrity.
Gao said greater awareness, vigilance and the active involvement of people living in the frontier areas were essential for safeguarding the country's interests, adding that the concerns of border communities deserved to be heard seriously and addressed promptly.
The controversy over Taksing began after the Nah Welfare Society (NWS), representing people from the area, alleged Chinese PLA activity and encroachment near the border in Upper Subansiri district.
The organisation claimed that Chinese military infrastructure and outposts had progressively moved closer to areas traditionally used by local communities and sought government intervention over what it described as growing concerns among the people.
The issue gained further attention after fresh reports and claims of heightened activity in the Taksing sector emerged in recent weeks.
A fact-finding committee of the People's Party of Arunachal has also claimed that Chinese intrusions along the LAC in the area were 'inexplicable yet irrefutable', adding another dimension to the ongoing debate over the situation on the ground.
At the same time, Indian defence authorities have rejected reports of any fresh Chinese incursion or encroachment.
The Army has described the allegations as incorrect and unsubstantiated, maintaining that reports of Chinese troops occupying Indian territory or setting up camps inside Arunachal Pradesh have no basis.
Chief Minister Pema Khandu earlier this month, had similarly rejected reports of a fresh Chinese incursion in the Taksing sector, saying there was no reason to believe that Indian territory had been breached and that the Army was guarding the country's borders.
He had, however, said that he would speak to the Army and representatives of the local organisations to ascertain the facts surrounding the claims and concerns raised by the people.
Union Minister Kiren Rijiju has also rejected claims of a deep, including a reported 60-km, Chinese intrusion into Indian territory. At the same time, he acknowledged that there were issues in some frontier areas because the boundary had not been clearly delineated, leading to differing perceptions and disputes over certain locations.
Rijiju had said the concerns of people living in the border areas were valid and should be taken seriously, but cautioned against spreading misinformation or exaggerated claims that could create unnecessary panic.
Also Read: China's Yarlung Tsangpo Project a 'Water Bomb': Arunachal MP Tapir Gao Warns