PM Modi Reacts To Chinese Renaming Efforts, Reaffirms Arunachal Pradesh's Status As 'Integral Part' Of India

PM Modi On Chinese Renaming Row: Days after China released a list of 30 new names for various areas in Arunachal Pradesh in a bid to stake a claim on it, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Monday reaffirmed the state's status as an "integral part" of India. He also asserted that his government's focus on developing Arunachal Pradesh and the wider northeast is indicative of how much importance the region holds for the nation.

"Arunachal Pradesh is, was and shall always be an integral part of Bharat. Today, the development works are reaching Arunachal and the Northeast like the first rays of the sun, faster than ever before," PM Modi said in an interview to Assam Tribune. The prime minister's remark came in in response to a question about China staking its territorial claim on parts of Arunachal Pradesh for years and raking up the issue from time to time.

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Responding to the question, PM Modi also referenced his visit to Arunachal Pradesh last month during which he laid unveiled several infrastructure projects worth a total of Rs 55,000 crore across six northeastern states. During the visit, PM Modi had also inaugurated the strategically important Sela Tunnel, which has been constructed to provide all-weather connectivity to Tawang, which lies along the Line of Actual Control.

"Around 35,000 families in Arunachal Pradesh got their pucca houses, and 45,000 households benefited from the drinking water supply project… In 2022, we inaugurated the Donyi Polo airport for enhanced air linkage to the rest of the nation. On the energy front, the Dibang Multipurpose Project will contribute to employment, energy and water resource management. We have commenced new road projects for about 125 villages and tourism and other infrastructure-related projects in 150 villages. The government has also launched a Rs 10,000 crore UNNATI scheme that will bring new possibilities for investment and jobs in the northeastern region," PM Modi was quoted as saying by Assam Tribune.

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Notably, PM Modi's March 9 visit was perceived as hostile by Beijing, which went on to lodge a diplomatic protest with New Delhi. "We reject the comments made by the Chinese side regarding the visit of the Prime Minister to Arunachal Pradesh. Indian leaders visit Arunachal Pradesh from time to time, as they visit other States of India. Objecting to such visits or India's developmental projects does not stand to reason," the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said in response to China's objections.