India must match Chi in economic strength: VK Singh

FROM OUR CORRESPONDENT

Itagar, March 25: Union MoS for Exterl Affairs V K Singh today insisted for India to match its steps with Chi’s economic strength while developing and protecting its borders for security as both the tions have enjoyed historical, traditiol and conventiol relations.

Attributing the present relation to happenings in 1950s and later and its manifestation in days to come when Chi is becoming too assertiveness, he said, “that was why we felt outraged in 1962”.

He was addressing a two-day tiol semir on “Voice from Aruchal Pradesh – India Chi Border problems and related Aruchal folklore” at Rajiv Gandhi University here.

“I am not hinting at a war. But the borders have to be developed and protected for security and resurgent India has to resolve all issues at intertiol platform for which groups have been constituted,” Singh said as his persol opinion. “Chi is a great economic strength far ahead of India, whose forward looking leaders has given Beijing the negotiating strength to engage the world in different perspective. Chi has recognized MacMohan line in Myanmar, but not In India,” Singh, a former Army general, reasoned.

Advocating change of Indian system that creates barriers, he said it is better to concentrate on other issues and look for scopes for a positive dialogue to resolve the border issue. Earlier, Chief Minister bam Tuki described the sensitive border state as an integral part of India whose holistic development began after announcement of a huge economic package by the Prime Minister in January 2008 to make it a front ranking state.

He hoped the semir would highlight the real issues to draw the right attention.

The semir is organized by Kolkata-based Research Centre for Eastern and North Eastern Regiol Studies, (CENERS-K) supported by state government, New Delhi-based Indian Council for World Affairs, Oil India Ltd and the Indian Army.

RGU vice Chancellor Prof Tamo Mibang, CENERS-K executive director Maj Gen (Retd) Arun Roye, spoke on the occasion while former ambassador to Chi, C Dasgupta spoke about the changed stance since 60s.

Speaking on the present situation, Lt Gen (Retd) B S Jaswal highlighted the present border situation vis-a-vis reluctant Chi policy that would dictate the future course.

“Aruchal is used as a bargain point but what is needed is a tiol consensus”, he said but hoped that Chi’s commitment to a ‘peaceful resolution’ may be slow but would be a reality. A host of dignitaries including deputy speaker T Norbu Thongdok, Sahitya Academy awardee Y D Thongchi, top ranking retired military officers, bureaucrats and academicians were present on the occasion.