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No proof of Chinese helipad in Arunachal, says Vajpayee

Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee today said no proof of a Chinese-constructed helipad had been found in Arunachal Pradesh.

He told the media after a defence investiture ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan that investigations had been conducted and no proof had been found of a helipad having been constructed by the Chinese in Arunachal Pradesh.

The issue had snowballed into a controversy ever since Union Defence Minister George Fernandes said earlier this week that Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Geong Apang had told him during his tour of the north-eastern states that the Chinese sometimes intruded into Indian territory and a helipad had also been constructed by them in the state.

The defence minister's remarks had evoked sharp reaction from the Chinese authorities.

Asked to confirm whether he had written to Fernandes to exercise restraint vis-a-vis China, Vajpayee replied in the negative.

''I don't talk to the defence minister in letters but keep on exchanging views with him regularly on various matters, and China is also one of them,'' the prime minister said.

In a lighter vein the prime minister remarked that ''you (media) first publish reports and then ask for clarification.''

The defence minister has himself clarified on the matter, and that is where the matter ends, Vajpayee said.

When contacted, Fernandes, who was also present at the investiture ceremony, said, ''The prime minister's word is the last word.''

He said sometimes he talked to the prime minister as many as three or four times a day and that the prime minister has not said anything.

The defence minister concluded by saying that he would not share with the media in the event of prime minister saying something of the kind.

On the foreign secretary-level talks with Pakistan, the prime minister said India was awaiting a response from Islamabad to various proposals mooted by New Delhi for the resumption of the dialogue at the Dhaka trilateral business summit in January.

On reports about Ghauri and Ghaznavi missiles of Pakistan, Vajpayee said he had taken note of all statements in this regard.

Asked to comment on reports that tension may be building up between India and Pakistan, the prime minister said he had taken note of such statements also.

UNI

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