Arunachal reacts after China protests to PM Modi’s visit
‘Arunachal is a symbol of faith for the country as it gives us strength’
Our Correspondent
Itanagar: Arunachal Pradesh on Monday criticised China for objecting to the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to the tribal State on Saturday to inaugurate and lay foundations of several important projects worth Rs 4,000 crore.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesman’s Hua Chunying had reacted through the ministry’s website: “China urges Indian side to bear in mind common interests of both nations, respect interests and concerns of Chinese side, cherish momentum of improvement in bilateral relations, and refrain from any action that may lead to escalation of disputes or complicate the boundary question.”
Criticising Beijing, State BJP president Tapir Gao, in his strong reaction said China has no right to meddle in the internal affairs of India.
“Beijing should know that India was technically a founding member of United Nations in October 1945, despite it being a British colony. It attained full independence in 1947 and has been ruled by elected governments since then, including Arunachal,” Gao said reminding China of history.
Condemning China for its demeanour, Congress Lok Sabha member Ninong Ering said: “We Arunachalees are known for our patriotism. That is why PM Modi, in his address, had said ‘Arunachal is a symbol of faith for the country as it gives us strength. The people used to greet each other with Jai Hind and I salute the people for their patriotism”.
“Beijing should know that nation is first and should learn to greet us with Jai Hin’ instead of prying into our territory with ulterior motive,” Ering added.
Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) president Takam Sanjoy, who has been always vocal as a former State minister and MP against China’s claim, registered his strong protest and recalled that when China had started issuing stapled visas to Arunachalees in January 2011 he had termed it as “insult to India” and had taken up the matter with then PM Manmohan Singh and Congress president Sonia Gandhi.
APCC spokesman Chera Taya pitched in to ask: “Is Beijing not aware that this State had graduated to parliamentary form of democracy in 1975 and ruled by elected government since then while three members represent the State in the Parliament?”
“I have been opposing whenever China has been objecting to visit of top Indian leaders to this State,” Peoples’ Party of Arunachal (PPA) chairman Kamen Ringu said.
China should limit itself to MaCMohan and should not dare to interfere in internal matters of India, he said. The senior leader urged Central Government to register diplomatic protest at international forum as such claims by China has been depriving our State from availing finance from global funding agency.
“Does China lack political and historical knowledge? – questioned National People’s Party spokesman Nima Sange Sailing, adding that India is not what it was in 1962 and Beijing should reflect its political wisdom to develop friendly relations with India instead of straining bilateral ties by such baseless claim over our territory.
The MacMahon Line, drawn by British colonial administrator Henry MacMahon during 1944 Simla Convention and signed between British and Tibetan representatives, demarcates the border between the Tibetan region of China and the North East India. It is currently effective boundary between China and India, though its legal status is disputed by the Chinese government.
Strategically located, land-locked Arunachal Pradesh shares a 1,680 km international border with Bhutan (160-km), China (1,080-km) and Myanmar (440-km).
Also Read: Arunachal News
