Arunachal leaders unanimously support Antony's barb at China

Itanagar, Mar 1 (ANI): Ahead of a meeting between the foreign ministers of India and China today, Arunachal Pradesh has endorsed Defence Minister A K Antony's rejection of Chinese objections to his visit to the state on February 20.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry had earlier objected to Antony's visit to attend Arunachal Pradesh's silver jubilee Statehood Day celebrations at Itanagar.

Spokesman Hong Lei had said that India should refrain from taking any action that could complicate the border issue.

Concluding his three-day visit to Upper Subansiri district at Daporijo on Wednesday, Chief Minister Nabam Tuki and Lok Sabha MP Takam Sanjoy unanimously supported Antony's barb at China, and asserted that "Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India."

"Arunachal Pradesh has never been a part of China, which is locally known as 'Quiding' - a distant land, or any of its territories," both announced in unison at a massive public rally attended by the local denizens in their traditional outfits.

Antony had also flayed China for raising objections to his visit to Itanagar, describing Beijing's comments as "most objectionable".

"I feel it is most unfortunate and, at the same time, really objectionable," Antony told reporters at New Delhi on February 28.

Tuki and Sanjoy expressed surprise over Beijing's uncalled for diatribe after Antony's visit to Itanagar.

They said that China had no rights to intervene in the internal matters of a sovereign country and its democratically formed state government. Both stood their ground that Arunachal was celebrating its 25 years of statehood and had the right to invite any Indian official or leader to join the celebrations.

China had earlier opposed the visit of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh to Arunachal Pradesh.

China routinely takes exception to any high level visit of Indian politicians to Arunachal Pradesh, which it claims as being a 'part of Southern Tibet'.

It also figured during the 15 rounds of border talks by the Special Representatives of both nations. China also denies visa to people of Arunachal as part of its claim to the area.

Antony during his visit to Itanagar had made it clear that a secure, non-porous international border was the top-most priority of the Centre. (ANI)