Ritam Banati
Itanagar: The reported permeation of Chinese troops across the 1,030km unfenced border only reaffirmed the belief that China has no plans to befriend India. It also threw light on the nation`s age old claim on the state of Arunachal.
One instance of the reported infiltration attempt was when the Chinese troops trespassed into J&K. This had followed Beijing’s criticism of Dalai Lama’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh. There were also incidents of firing between ITBP jawans & Chinese soldiers across the Sikkim border.
But Army Chief Deepak Kapoor played down the incursions saying that there was no cause for worry as the level of was not higher than before.
His assurances came amidst incursions by the Chinese and violation of Indian airspace in Leh-Ladakh, and rocket attacks and firing along the Indo-Pak border in Punjab and Jammu and Kashmir.
The Chinese truly are incorrigible. This was once again highlighted when the country slammed the visit by Tibetan spiritual head-the Dalai Lama to Arunachal Pradesh.
The weeklong visit of the Dalai Lama was in the eye of a storm as China objected alleging that the monk was disrupting Indo-China harmony.
Dalai Lama responded in polite tones that since his visit was apolitical, there was no reason for China to feel disgruntled. But he also added that he wasn`t surprised by China’s reaction.
This was because the country had always had a problem with him and was constantly campaigning against him wherever he went.
Meanwhile, the monk was issued an embracing welcome by thousands of people who lined the road to Tawang.
Beijing, which considers Arunachal Pradesh to be part of south Tibet, had condemned the visit as undermining Chinese territorial integrity. India’s stand has always been to give the Dalai Lama freedom to visit any place in the country.
Gegong Apang-the longest serving Chief Minister by far was put to political rest. Apang who had served as the state CM from 2003-2007 and prior to that was at the helm of state affairs for 19 long years at a stretch, lost to the NCP and his son too was defeated by the BJP.
In the October 13 assembly election, UPA allies the Trinamool Congress and Nationalist Congress Party, who were contesting separately, made reports of Chinese incursions and Beijing’s claims over Arunachal election issues.
The BJP also raked up the same matter during the elections to the the 60-member legislature of the state.
The polls were only to elect 57 members as 3 of the candidates were already declared elected unopposed. Among these were Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu, sitting MLA Tsewang Dhondup (Tawang) and debutant Jambey Tashi (Lumla).
And this paved the path for the smooth victory of Dorjee Khandu whose party won 42 seats, as the CLP leader after the assembly polls.
