Arunachal: CM Affirms Centuries-Long Connection to India Amid Chinese Claims

ITANAGAR: In a firm rebuttal of Chinese territorial claims over Arunachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Pema Khandu, during an interview with a news agency on Tuesday, reaffirmed the state's indelible connection with India over centuries. He questioned the basis of China's repeated assertions, emphasizing that Arunachal Pradesh has been an integral part of the Indian union for generations. Khandu also commended the Ministry of External Affairs for its fitting response to these claims.

Khandu stated, "Is there anything about Arunachal that suggests, even remotely, that it has anything to do with China? I don't know on what basis China makes these claims over Arunachal. For centuries, we have been connected to India. The MEA reacted appropriately whenever China made groundless claims about our state. The people of Arunachal Pradesh are among the most patriotic in the country. When they receive guests, they chant Jai Hind. The people here face a lot of challenges and hardships, but our love for the country is never in doubt."

Shifting the focus to the state's economic development, Chief Minister Khandu articulated his vision for Arunachal Pradesh to emerge as the leading state in revenue generation over the next decade. He cited the state's abundant natural resources as a key factor in achieving this goal.

"We are aiming to make Arunachal the best-performing state in terms of revenue generation in the country in the next 10 years. Our state is bountiful in terms of resources," Khandu declared.

Highlighting the state's unique geographical position, Khandu noted that Arunachal Pradesh is the largest state in the Northeast and shares international borders with Bhutan (250 km), Tibet-China (1200 km), and Myanmar (550 km). He acknowledged the historical development challenges faced by the state but underscored the remarkable transformation in infrastructure, connectivity (including road, railway, airport, and digital connectivity), achieved over the past nine years.

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