BJP MP's demand status quo over Chinese claim on Arunachal

Itanagar, Jan 30 (UNI) BJP MPs from Arunachal Pradesh, Kiren Rijiju and Tapir Gao, have asked to maintain the 'status quo', over China's claim on Indian territory, here without altering the populated areas as per 2003 Indo-China agreement during the visit of the then Prime Minister Atal Behari Vajpayee to Beijing.

In a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh yesterday, the MPs reiterated that the status quo should be maintained without disturbing the populated areas on either side of the McMahon Line. The letter, a copy of which was sent to the press, also demanded that the Prime Minister during his visit to the state tomorrow give an assurance to the people of Aruachal in this regard.

''The people here are really worried after former Chinese Ambassador Sun Yuxi claimed that Arunachal is a Chinese territory,'' the MPs said. The MPs further advocated to adopting a resolution in the coming budget session of Parliament reiterating that no part of the state would be scarified to China.

They also demanded that the traditional trade routes through Kinjomane, Taksing, Mechuka, Monigong, Geling and Kibitho with China should be re-opened and one-time release of funds for completing the half-done central projects.

The letter also pleaded for special budgetary provisions to be earmarked in the 11th-five-year plan for infrastructure development in Arunachal and linking all the border points and border villages in the state with roads and telecommunication.

UNI UPB PP NY VC1358