In a harshly worded statement against China, Union Home Minister Amit Shah said that “nobody can encroach even an inch” of Indian borderland. He warned against casting an “evil eye” on the territorial integrity of India. Further, the minister also highlighted that border infrastructure was a priority of the government to ward off threats to India’s border areas. He made these remarks at the launch of the “Vibrant Village” programme. The event was held in a border village of Kibithu in Arunachal Pradesh.
Minister’s remarks
Shah emphasized the importance of Arunachal Pradesh as a part of the Indian territory. He mentioned that his heart was filled with patriotism every time he visited the state. The reason was that everybody in the state greets each other not by saying ‘Namaste’ but by saying ‘ Jai Hind’. He also credited the Chinese withdrawal from Arunachal during the 1962 Indo-China War to the patriotism of the people of the state. He called the village the “first village” of India and promised that the government had plans to develop these areas and provide basic amenities.
Background
India and China have a dispute over about 3,440 km long de facto border in Arunachal Pradesh. This is called the Line of Actual Control and is not demarcated properly. Moreover, because of the relief features and terrain that has the presence of lakes, rivers and mountains the line can shift, often causing conflicts. There have been several skirmishes between Indian and Chinese forces in the past.
On the other side
China claimed that such statements violated its territorial sovereignty over the area. It also criticized Shah’s visit to the area. Foreign Ministry spokesperson of China Wang Wenbin said in Beijing that Arunachal Pradesh is part of China’s territory and criticized Shah’s visit and remarks as unconducive to peace and tranquility in the region.