Chinese barbs against PM’s Arunachal trip unfortunate: BJP

Describing the Chinese Government’s statement against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh as ‘unfortunate’, the Opposition BJP on Tuesday demanded New Delhi to exhibit its ‘diplomatic skills’ to ensure that the neighbouring country never dares to make such a statement.

“This is really unfortunate. The Government should register its protest with the Chinese Government in such a language that it would not repeat the mistake. We have always been with the Government on the issue of national security,” BJP president Rajnath Singh told reporters here on Tuesday.

China has expressed “strong” dissatisfaction over the Prime Minister’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh about ten days ago for electioneering. “We demand the Indian side to address China’s serious concerns and not trigger disturbance in the disputed region so as to facilitate the healthy development of China-India relations,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Ma Zhaoxu said.

Leader of Opposition in the Rajya Sabha Arun Jaitley said, “This is a direct assault by China on India’s sovereignty. Of late, the dimensions of these diplomatic aggression and physical incursions have increased. The Government of India should take a strong stand on the matter and take up the issue with China.”

BJP spokesperson Rajiv Pratap Rudy described the Chinese Foreign Ministry’s statement as “strong and to a great extent, disrespectful”. “We share an unfenced border with China, which does not recognise the McMahon line. It is occupying 35,000 sqkm of land in Kashmir. There have been repeated incursions in Sikkim, Kashmir and Arunachal Pradesh,” he said.

Accusing the Indian Government, especially the External Affairs Minister, of being “non-serious” about the border problem with China, the Opposition party demanded that the Prime Minister should himself send a strong reply to the neighbouring country.

“The National Security Adviser had called reports of Chinese incursions a media creation. This raises questions about the Government’s sincerity on the issue,” Rudy said. He drew the Government’s attention to State Chief Minister’s earlier complaint that the Chinese had entered 20 km inside the Indian territory to argue his point.

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