Rebuffing China's claim on Arunachal Pradesh, India on Sunday asserted that the north eastern state is its integral part and ruled out ceding any of its part.
"China is often making claims on Arunachal Pradesh, but Arunachal Pradesh has a special place in our heart," External Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee Mukherjee, who visited the 400-year-old Buddhist monastery in Tawang in this border town, said.
The Sino-Indian border dispute
"People of Arunachal Pradesh regularly elect two representatives to the Lok Sabha and there is an elected state assembly carrying out the responsibility of administration like any of other 27 states. The question of parting company with Arunachal or any of its part does not arise," he said amidst defeaning cheers.
Mukherjee's rejection of the Chinese claim on Arunachal Pradesh follows the recent declaration of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during a visit to the state that Arunachal was 'our land of rising sun'.
China uneasy over PM's Arunachal visit
Addressing as chief guest at the 8th Buddha Mahotsava, Mukherjee said, "Both India and China are seeking a peaceful solution to the border dispute. The special representatives of the Prime Ministers of both India and China have completed 12 rounds of talks. There are problems in identification of land between the two countries.
Amidst loud applause from thousands of people gathered on the occasion, Mukherjee said one of the parametres of sorting out the boundary issue was that no settled population could be exchanged.
PM announces Rs 1000 crore package for Arunachal
During a public meeting in Arunachal capital Itanagar on January 31, the PM had also announced a Rs 20,000- crore financial package for rapid development of the mountainous tribal state.
Mukherjee said he was pleased to get an opportunity to come to Tawang, the birth place of the 6th Dalai Lama.
"There are some places which are not just geographical entities. Because of cultural heritage and history associated with them, they occupy special places in our hearts and Tawang is such a place where righteous people create an atmosphere free from violence and hatred," he said.