When two Parliamentary constituencies in Arunachal Pradesh go to poll on Wednesday along with the state assembly, India will score a diplomatic point over China.
China’s territorial claim over the picturesque Northeastern state of India. Arunachal Pradesh, the largest Northeastern state with 83,743 square kilometre, has got more strident over the years.
This was the state that bore the brunt of the Chinese attack during the war in 1962.
To stake its claim over the territory China continues to issue stapled visa, instead of stamping the visa, to the residents of Arunachal Pradesh.
Much to India’s disappointment, China continues its visa policy even after Prime Minister Manmohan Singh and his Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang of China oversaw the signing of nine agreements on issues like river-sharing and cooperation against terrorism on October 23 last year.
Mihu Maselo and Yumi Sorang, two women archers from Arunachal Pradesh were stopped from boarding China Southern Airlines flight to Guangzhou for the Youth World Archery Championship at Wuxi last year as China did not issue them the regular stamped visa.
Chinese Embassy gives visa to an Arunachali on a separate sheet of paper stapled to one of the pages of his passport. It was not stamped, as is the norm.
India’s stand on the issue was reiterated by President Pranab Mukherjee when he visited the state in November last year: “Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and important part of the northeast region of India and a core stake holder in country’s ‘Look East’ foreign policy.”
By joining the world’s largest democratic exercise, the state’s 7,35, 196 voters will reinforce that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India.
“We are part of India and no one can negate that. This democratic exercise will once again send across a strong message to China to rethink its policy vis-a-vis Arunachal Pradesh,” said Habung Payeng, Aam Admi Party’s candidate for the Arunacha West seat.
“China should shed its expansionist policy and forge bilateral ties with India for peace, progress and prosperity of both the nations,” the BJP’s prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi reiterated while addressing a meeting at Pashighat in Arunchal Pradesh onFebruary 22.Barely two days before polling is due in Arunachal Pradesh , China tried to rub India the wrong way.
Its official media on Monday described India’s North East as most “neglected” region in the country.
“India’s northeastern states — which also include Manipur, Mizoram, Meghalaya and Nagaland are said to be the country’s most neglected region,” state-run Xinhua news agency said in its report on Indian elections.
Significantly, and for the obvious reason, there was no mention of Arunachal Pradesh in the report.
The five Northeastern states go to polls for the parliament on Wednesday — but Arunachal Pradesh is also having elections to its 60-member state assembly on the same day.
“After we vote in Indian elections year after year, does anyone need any further evidence that we are Indians,” said former chief minister Gegong Apang, now with the BJP.
Source: Bd news24