Denial of visa most unfortunate: Khandu

Itanagar, May 28 (UNI) Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu today termed the denial of visa to a state's IAS officer by China as most unfortunate, as it implied China acknowledging the state as its own territory.

''One will be naive to ignore the inherent and latest message in China's refusal to grant visa to the officer that it considers Arunachal as its integral part,'' he added.

Commissioner to Chief Minister, K D Singh, informed that on hearing about China's refusal to grant visa, Mr Khandu expressed anger and said, ''It is unfortunate that China refuses to accept the reality that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India.'' ''We, the tribal people of Arunachal Pradesh, are the proud inheritors of the legacy of Parusuram, Rukmini, Shiva and Buddha since time immemorial and we are an integral part of Akhand Bharat,'' he added.

The chief minister pointed out that the refusal to grant visa to an Arunachalee was not the sole instance and that in the past too, many Arunachalee officers were refused visa by the country.

Consequently, he urged the Centre to take up the issue with China and get the issue clarified to remove the prevailing doubts about the real intentions of China.

UNI