Chinese engineers left Arunachal: Khandu

Itanagar, Jun 27 (UNI) A day after Lok Sabha MP from Arunachal Pradesh Kiren Rijiju castigated the Centre for approving Chinese oil companies to provide manpower and equipment for oil exploration at Kharsang and Jairampur in Changlang district, Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu today said that all the four Chinese engineers had left the state.

''The four engineers--Li Yangbing, Fu Haidong, Cao Xingsheng and Yan Zhioang--left the state on June 14, following constant pursuance of the state government,'' Mr Khandu told a press conference.

He said as per information received from Changlang districts Deputy Commissioner Hage Batt, they left Kharsang after persuasion from the state government following strong opposition from various quarters, including Mr Rijiju.

The Chinese engineers had arrived here last month to share expertise with the Indian oil companies executing exploration work at Kharsang and Jairampur.

Mr Rijiju told media persons here yesterday that he would raise the issue in Parliament for their immediate deportation as Arunachal is a sensitive state with China's claim on its territory.

''No direct or indirect involvement of a Chinese company should be allowed in the state as security concerns must be addressed before giving clearance to a foreign company,'' he had said.

Last month the MP had also discussed the matter with the Union Home Ministry and wrote a letter to Prime Minister Manmohan Singh seeking his intervention in the matter.

UNI UPB RH PL RL VC1722