AAPSU to boycott R-day celebrations on stapled visa issue

Itanagar, Jan 19 (PTI) In protest against the issue ofstapled visas to two Arunachalee sportsmen by China and the"step-motherly" treatment meted out to the state by theCentre, the All Arunachal Pradesh Students''Union (AAPSU) hasdecided to boycott the Republic Day celebrations.

A decision to this effect was taken by the apex students�body during its central executive body meeting here yesterday.

Referring to the "humiliation" meted out to buddingweightlifter Yukar Sibi and his mentor Techi Abraham, who weredisallowed to embark on the invitational trip to theneighbouring country because of visa row, the AAPSU decided toboycott all functions of national importance.

�By issuing stapled visas to the Arunachalees, China hasvirtually challenged Indian rule over Arunachal,� AAPSUpresident Takam Tatung said in a statement adding that �theCentral government�s response has been very lukewarm.

�Why did budding sportspersons like Yukar Sibi have toface such problems for none of his fault? New Delhi andBeijing should resolve the border issue at earliest so thatArunachalee citizens do not suffer", he said.

The AAPSU also claimed that Indian government was yet toseal the border with China despite repeated appeals by them inthe past. �Till now, border has been demarcated as per ourtribal customs, the statement said.

Meanwhile the Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee(APCC) in an extended executive body meeting here yesterdayregistered its strong protest on the stapled visa issue.

Adopting a resolution in this regard, the party urgedupon AICC president Sonia Gandhi to pursue the Centralgovernment to resolve the issue bilaterally and diplomaticallywith China.