Itanagar, Sept 27: Residents of Tezu town in Arunachal Pradesh’s Lohit district took to the streets to voice their outrage by burning an effigy of Chinese President Xi Jinping. Their protest centered around the denial of entry and the issuance of staple visas to three Wushu sportspersons from Arunachal Pradesh who were meant to participate in the 2023 Asian Games held in Hangzhou, China.
The protest was organized by the Lohit unit of the Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad, in collaboration with the All Arunachal Pradesh Youth Organisation and the Tirap, Changlang, Longding Students’ Union. Demonstrators marched from the clock tower to Gandhi Chowk in a call for justice on behalf of the athletes.
Over 300 students from various schools, along with members of the Lohit District Students’ Union and the general public, joined the protest march to express their solidarity with the sportspersons.
The athletes in question, Onilu Tega, Mepung Lamgu, and Nyeman Wangsu, were compelled to withdraw from the Asian Games after encountering insurmountable hurdles in securing clearance from Chinese authorities.
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The denial of entry visas to these sportspersons for the prestigious Asian Games has sparked outrage among the residents of Tezu and throughout Arunachal Pradesh. It underscores the longstanding border dispute between India and China, with Arunachal Pradesh being one of the contentious areas.
Wushu is a popular sport in Arunachal Pradesh, and the state has produced numerous talented athletes who have represented India on the international stage. The denial of entry to these athletes is seen as a setback for sports development in the region and has triggered a passionate response from the local community.
Effigies and protests serve as powerful symbols of public sentiment, and the burning of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s effigy in Arunachal Pradesh is indicative of the frustration and disappointment felt by the people in the region. The demand for justice for the athletes highlights the importance of sports diplomacy and people-to-people exchanges in resolving complex international issues
