Congress raises concern over China renaming places in Arunachal Pradesh

New Delhi: The Congress took strong objection on Tuesday to China renaming several places in Arunachal Pradesh, and charged it is the result of Prime Minister Narendra Modi's "clean chit" to the neighbouring country and his "eloquent silence" on Chinese actions at the border.

Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge said the country continues to face the consequences of Modi's "clean chit" to China.

"For the third time China has dared to rename our areas in Arunachal Pradesh. April 21, 2017 -- 6 places, December 30, 2021 -- 15 places, April 3, 2023 -- 11 places.

चीन ने तीसरी बार अरुणाचल में हमारे इलाक़ों के “नाम बदलने” का दुस्साहस किया है।

21 अप्रैल 2017 — 6 जगह
30 दिसंबर 2021 — 15 जगह
3 अप्रैल 2023 — 11 जगह

अरुणाचल प्रदेश भारत का अभिन्न अंग है और रहेगा।

गलवान के बाद, मोदी जी द्वारा चीन को क्लीन चिट देने का नतीजा, देश भुगत रहा है। pic.twitter.com/JTDTuCsRcY

— Mallikarjun Kharge (@kharge) April 4, 2023

"Arunachal Pradesh is and will remain an integral part of India. After Galwan, the country is facing the consequences of Modiji's clean chit to China," Kharge said in a tweet in Hindi.

In a tweet in Hindi, former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi alleged that, "China has snatched 2000 sq km of land, they are changing names of places -- Prime Minister is silent, no answer! Prime Minister, why so much fear?" India on Tuesday outrightly rejected China renaming some places in Arunachal Pradesh, asserting that the state is an integral part of India and assigning "invented" names does not alter this reality.

New Delhi's reaction came in response to Beijing announcing Chinese names for 11 more places in Arunachal Pradesh which the neighbouring country claims as southern part Tibet.

All India Congress Committee (AICC) general secretary Jairam Ramesh said a top Chinese diplomat has recently claimed that the India-China border situation is now "stable".

"But China's provocations and transgressions continue. It has now released a third set of Chinese names for places in Arunachal Pradesh, having done so earlier in 2017 and 2021.

"This is the price we continue to pay for PM Modi's clean chit to China in June 2020 and his eloquent silence on Chinese actions," Ramesh said in a statement.

He said almost three years later, Chinese forces continue to deny Indian patrolling teams access to the strategic Depsang plains to which they previously had unimpeded access.

"And now the Chinese are attempting to undermine the status quo in Arunachal Pradesh.

"Arunachal Pradesh has always been and remains an integral and unalienable part of India. The people of Arunachal Pradesh are proud and patriotic citizens of India. There should be no doubt whatsoever on the collective resolve of India, and of all Indians, to ensure that these realities are not disturbed in any way," the Congress leader said.