'China map' evokes strong protest from Arunachal Pradesh students, youth
Source: The Sangai Express / Ninglun Hanghal

New Delhi, July 02 2014: Hundreds of students from Arunachal Pradesh and others from the same State staying at Delhi today staged a sit in demonstration to denounce the recent map of China that showed Arunachal Pradesh as part of China's territory.

According to the map, China laid claim over around 90,000 sq kms of Arunachal Pradesh and termed it as "Southern Tibet" .

The infuriated students from Arunachal Pradesh asserted that such claims have been consistently made by the Chinese Government, especially after 1962 .

Calling for a permanent solution, the students and youth from Arunachal Pradesh also voiced their opposition to the Staple Visa issued by Chinese Government to people from Arunachal Pradesh.

'China map' evokes strong protest from Arunachal Pradesh students, youth

Successive Governments at the Centre had also promised to look into the matter of the claims made by China over Arunachal Pradesh, the Staple Visa issue as well as incursion from time to time, but so far no permanent solution has been brought about.

Significantly the latest map of China was issued during the visit of a high-level delegation led by Vice President Hamid Ansari along with Commerce Minister Nirmala Sitharaman and Foreign Secretary Sujatha Singh to China for the five days Panchsheel observation from June 26 to 30 .

Reacting to a question on the numerous visits and high level talks held between India and China, Arunachal Pradesh MP Ninong Erring said, "Delhi does not really care about Arunachal ! This is not diplomacy but riding rough shod over the sentiments of the people of Arunachal Pradesh" .

Though there is no physically intrusion in terms of the Chinese coming into Arunachal, the MP said that there have been times when Chines troops crossed the border.

Urging the Government of India to take up the "illegal claims of the Chinese" the students and youth from Arunachal Pradesh today demanded a permanent solution to the issue .

The youth, some of whom were emotional, questioned the indifferent attitude of the Indian Government and stated that such indifference continues, the people of Arunachal would be reduced to the status of "refugees" in their own country.

They also questioned as to whether the Indian Government is so weak to let the China's People's Liberation Army intrude into Arunachal.

Condemning the 'latest map of China' in the strongest words, the youth termed the stapled visa as a devious strategy adopted by China to lay claims over the territories of Arunachal Pradesh.

China's territorial claim and stapled visa is undermining the position of Arunachal as a State of India which is a threat to India, said a statement issued today.

The statement also demanded that the Government of India take a resolute stand in countering China.