Arunachal an integral part of India: Pranab

Arunachal Pradesh, Nov 10, 2008: Rebuffing China's claim on Arunachal Pradesh, India have 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, who visited the 400-year-old Buddhist monastery here in this border town, the second in importance to the one at Lhasa, Tibet, said.

"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 of 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 recent declaration of Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during a visit to the state that Arunachal was 'our land of rising sun'.

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 India was insisting on sorting out the boundary issue was that no settled population could be exchanged.