Aruchal parties oppose Chi's charge

ITAGAR, April 9: Political leaders in Aruchal Pradesh, cutting across party line, today vehemently opposed to Chi’s charge of ‘transgression’ against Indian Army in the strategically sensitive Asaphila area in Upper Subansiri district.

“Chi’s protest during border personnel meeting (BPM) on March 15 to India Army’s patrolling in Asaphila is shocking and surprising,” Aruchal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Takam Sanjoy said.

When the area falling within Aruchal Pradesh belongs to India and such patrolling is a regular practice, Beijing’s charge is baseless and unfounded, Sanjoy, a former MP said while taking a dig at the BJP-led NDA Government for its week-kneed diplomatic policy which has led to such a situation.

Taking strong exception to such of repeated allegations by Chi, State BJP vice president Dominic Tadar wondered at Beijing’s attitude towards its friendly neighbour.  Without referring to the incident that strained Indo-Chi bilateral relations, he said that any country and its leaders have to change with fast changing time to be part of the global growth process, instead of negative attitude of Chi.

Aruchal State Civil Supplies Minister Kamlung Mossang, who represents sensitive Miao Assembly Constituency of Changlang district, said that no neighbouring tion has any right to interfere in interl matters of India.

“What it does and where it does are up to India’s lawmakers, planners and executors, but nobody else’s affairs,” he said with conviction.

Opposition leader and senior People’s Party Leader (PPA) Takam Pario pooh-poohed at Bejing, saying such charge had no iota of ground, whether political or geographical. “Beijing should neither undermine democratically elected governments ruling India as well as Aruchal Pradesh. India is the largest democracy in the world and always toes democratic principles in its every action,” Pario said and advised Beijing to rise above its rrow diplomatic attitude.     

However, PPA president Kahfa Begin went a little ahead by charging Chi of forcibly occupying huge areas of India after it attacked India without any provocation in 1962.

Citing the example of Duya village where indigenous h and Tagin tribes of Aruchal Pradesh are still living, he said that Chi should return Indian portion instead of claiming genuine territory of India as its own.