India’s historic connect with Arunachal rejects China’s claim

Recently China objected to President Pranab Mukherjee’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh just as it did when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh visited the state in 2009. China keeps harping, India has illegally occupied its territory. To irritate India, it also started the stapled visa for the residents of the state or declaring, the residents don’t need visa as they belong to China.

 

This time however India reacted promptly by giving an appropriate response to Beijing. Indian officials firmly reiterated what Pranab Mukherjee said in Itanagar, that Arunachal Pradesh was an integral part of India. And any Indian citizen or dignitary could visit the Indian state.

India also challenged China’s territorial claims to Arunachal Pradesh by establishing a longer historical connection with this border state. On his first visit to the state, the President gently asserted India’s sovereignty over the state, delving deep into Puranic literature to establish the connect. It is believed that here, sage Parashuram washed away his sins, another sage Vyasa meditated here, and King Bhismaka founded his kingdom here. Lord Krishna married his consort Rukmini. So reminding China of India’s pre-historic ties with this place.

And China maintains the birth of sixth Dalai Lama in Tawang was reason enough to claim Arunachal Pradesh, which it calls Southern Tibet. Pranab Mukherjee used the same fact to claim India’s link to the border state.

Mukherjee also stated, Arunachal Pradesh as a ‘core stakeholder’ in India’s ‘Look East policy.’ He said – the North East of India provides a natural bridge between us and South East Asia. The essential philosophy of our ‘Look East’ policy is that India must find its destiny by linking itself more and more with the Asian partners. Our best economic interests are served by close integration with Asia.

Now whether China calls Arunachal its territory or not, India has made it amply clear that Arunachal Pradesh will remain an integral part of India. Its historical ties can’t be wished away because China claims so.

* To be here or to communicate: aneelanike@gmail.com 

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