In a counter to China’s repeated claims on Arunachal Pradesh, India is planning to increase social, cultural, political and diplomatic activities in the North Eastern states. As part of the plan, India is planning to organise key meetings of the foreign leaders in this state in future. Sources told The Daily Guardian that the US has expressed willingness to send its diplomats for the meeting with their Indian counterparts in Arunachal Pradesh. Some European countries including the UK will also be sending their delegates to Arunachal Pradesh if India invites them for a meeting there, sources added.
In addition to this, more and more cultural and social activities will be organized in the state. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Kahndu has asked his ministers to be more active on social media in posting the activities being carried out in the state. CM Khandu is himself quite actively posting updates of the developmental and other positive works being done in the state. Khandu’s tweet posted on Tuesday evening is self-explanatory as it reads, “Our @BJPArunachal karyakartas are committed to the principle of Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas, as envisioned by Hon PM Shri Narendra Modi Ji to build a new India. Their unwavering support in taking development to the last mile in Lohit and Anjaw districts is commendable. Proud of them!” This tweet assumes significance as it came hours after China objected to Union Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh, stating that “it violated Chinese sovereignty over the areas”. India firmly rejected China’s objection to Home Minister Amit Shah’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh and asserted that the state “was, is and will” always remain an integral and inalienable part of India. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said objecting to such visits does not stand to reason and will not change the reality. “We completely reject the comments made by the Chinese official spokesperson. Indian leaders routinely travel to the state of Arunachal Pradesh as they do to any other state of India,” Bagchi said. “Arunachal Pradesh was, is and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India. Objecting to such visits does not stand to reason and will not change the above reality,” he said. In a clear message to China from the border village of Kibithoo in Arunachal Pradesh, Shah on Monday had said no one can dare cast an evil eye on India’s territorial integrity and encroach even an “inch of our land.” He said the era when anyone could encroach the borderlands of India was over. Sources said that the government would try to ensure that top leaders visit the Tawang area which China claims more specifically. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh visited Tawang in 2019. “More such visits are being planned for Tawang in what will give a much stronger message to China,” said officials. China had skipped a two-day G20 meeting which was held in Arunachal Pradesh’s capital Itanagar two weeks ago. There was no delegation from China in this meeting which was attended by 100 delegates representing the G20 countries. The event was among the 200 meetings in over 50 major cities across 32 different work streams.