Arunachal issue is not debatable: Pranab

The government asserted in Parliament on Friday that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India and the issue is 'not debatable at all'. Both Houses condemned the 'uncalled for' and 'objectionable' remarks of the Chinese Ambassador over its status.

External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee said India's Ambassador in Beijing has told Chinese authorities that the comments that 'the entire Arunachal Pradesh is Chinese territory' should not have come from its envoy, particularly on the eve of President Hu Jintao's visit to India earlier this week.

"Let us not unnecessarily create tension. Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India and is going to be so. It is not a debatable issue at all," Mukherjee said in the Lok Sabha, responding to concerns expressed by members from all parties.

Noting that a Parliament resolution emphasising that Arunachal Pradesh is part of India is already there, he said China does not recognise this, 'which is not acceptable to us'.

Mukherjee was responding to an impromptu discussion during Zero Hour after the Leader of Opposition L K Advani raised the issue.

Advani expressed 'surprise' and 'concern' over Chinese envoy Sun Yuxi's statement and sought to know whether the government had taken up the matter with Hu.

Advani also demanded a Parliamentary resolution saying this would an appropriate reponse to the impression created by the Chinese Ambassador.

Both the Lok Sabha and the Rajya Sabha witnessed uproarious scenes with members denouncing the Chinese Ambassador's statement and demanding a statement from the government.