1. Assam CM Himanta Biswa Sarma suggests a tit-for-tat response to China’s renaming of Arunachal Pradesh.
2. Sarma proposes naming 60 places in Tibet under China’s control in retaliation.
3. The call for reciprocal action comes amid ongoing tensions between India and China.
Guwahati, April 03: Amid the ongoing tension sparked by China’s renaming of places in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma proposed a tit-for-tat response by India, suggesting the release of Indian names for 60 places in Tibet under China’s control.
Speaking at a press meet in Guwahati, Sarma urged the Indian government to reciprocate China’s actions, stating, “It should be tit for tat. If they have named 30 places, we should name 60.”
He emphasized that while it’s a policy matter for the Indian government, such a move would be appropriate in response to China‘s actions.
India had previously rejected China’s renaming of certain places in Arunachal Pradesh, asserting that the state “is, has been, and will always be” an integral part of India.
The Ministry of External Affairs strongly objected to China’s efforts to rename places in Arunachal Pradesh, reaffirming that such actions do not change the reality of the state’s status as an integral and inalienable part of India.
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The Chinese Ministry of Civil Affairs released a list of standardised geographical names in Zangnan, the Chinese name for Arunachal Pradesh, claiming it as part of south Tibet.
However, India has consistently maintained that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of the country, rejecting any attempts to alter its status through name changes or baseless claims.
In response to China’s actions, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar emphasized that changing names does not alter ownership, comparing it to changing the name of someone’s house. He reiterated India’s stance that Arunachal Pradesh has always been and will remain an Indian state.
This development occurs amidst strained relations between India and China due to ongoing confrontations in eastern Ladakh since May 2020.
While both countries have disengaged from certain areas, India underscores the importance of peace and tranquility along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) for normalizing overall relations.
