New Delhi: India on Monday sent a strong message to China over its objection to the visit of Defence Minister A K Antony to Arunachal Pradesh saying the state was a part and parcel of India and anyone raising doubt about that was both surprising and unfortunate.
Antony while talking to reporters here said that he as a Defence Minister had the right to visist any border state.
“I was surprised to see such a reaction. I feel it is most unfortunate and, at the same time, it is really objectionable,” Antony said. “I have been visiting Arunachal since 1984. This time, I was thrilled to visit the state on its silver jubilee of attaining statehood,” he said stressing that the state was an integral part of the country.
He expressed happiness over the progress made by the state.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry had on Saturday taken objection to the Defence Minister’s visit to the north eastern state on the occasion of silver jubilee celebration of its statehood. Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei had asked ‘India to work with China to maintain peace and stability in border areas’, and not to complicate the border issue. (UNI)
