- CM Khandu dismisses Chinese incursion reports in Arunachal Pradesh.
- Indian Army vigilantly patrols and protects the state's borders.
- India mapped 27 strategic places, rejecting China's renaming.
India-China Border Dispute: Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Saturday completely dismissed reports of Chinese incursions into the state, saying the Indian Army is vigilantly patrolling the territory and fully protecting the country's borders.
Speaking to reporters, Khandu categorically stated that there was no sign of incursions in Arunachal Pradesh. He emphasised that the Indian Army is effectively patrolling and securing the territory.
Indian Government's Strong Response To China
The chief minister's statement came after the Central government on Friday included 27 important places in Arunachal Pradesh in the country's official map with their standard names, amid China's continued claims of changing the names of places in the border state of Arunachal Pradesh. The government said the primary objective of this move is to accurately identify these locations and raise public awareness about their geographical and historical significance.
An official statement stated that formally identifying these locations on the Survey of India map of Arunachal Pradesh is intended to ensure their accurate identification and better public awareness.
ALSO READ: Arunachal Pradesh Name Row: India Renames 27 Places, Includes Them In Official Map Amid China Claims
India Has Consistently Rejected China's Claim
It is noteworthy that New Delhi has consistently rejected Beijing's practice of arbitrarily renaming locations in Arunachal Pradesh, calling it meaningless and absurd. India's position is clear that such actions cannot change the undeniable fact that Arunachal Pradesh was, is, and will always remain an integral part of the country.
These Locations Are Strategically Important
It is noteworthy that many of the 27 locations included in the map are highly significant due to their proximity to the Line of Actual Control (LAC) and the history of past military conflicts between India and China. Longju is one of the earliest hotbeds of conflict between the two countries. Chinese troops entered the area in 1959, three years before the 1962 Sino-Indian War.
The list includes Maja village, Bisa village, and strategically important mountain passes like Dzo La, Riza La, and Pukur La in Upper Subansiri district, near Longju. Thag La is the high-altitude pass where one of the initial battles of the 1962 war was fought.
The town of Jairampur in Changlang district serves as a key logistics hub for the movement of security forces towards eastern Arunachal Pradesh and the Myanmar border. Apart from this, places like Shambhu Sarovar, Bada Kundun, Chhota Kundun, Dhan Bari, Preetnagar, Teritnagar, Ramgarh/Rameshwar, Jaswantgarh, Sagar, Padma, Jyotinagar, Baisakhi, Sher-e-Thapa Memorial, Chhota Ropuk, Bada Ropuk, Shivaji Nagar, Sunpura, Kamlang Nagar and Buddha Temple have also been added to the map.