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Arunachal dilemma : PM to visit the state next month |
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Prime Minister Manmohan Singh will make a two-day visit to Arunachal Pradesh from February 19, hoping to calm fears over China staking claim to the state as part of its territory.
On Dec. 27, the Prime Minister held almost an hour-long discussion at his residence with Arunachal Pradesh chief minister Gegong Apang. They discussed issues pertaining to “internal and external security”, sources said.
The Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister later met Defence Minister Antony and discussed “matters of strategic importance and border area development.” He is scheduled to visit the state in April.
Apang had not reacted when the Chinese Ambassador issued a controversial statement days before President Hu Jintao’s visit to New Delhi in November last year, staking claim to Arunachal Pradesh. He left it to the Ministry of External Affairs to issue a statement on the Chinese claim.
Observers see Dr. Singh’s visit to the state - which will be clubbed with his visit to Guwahati for the closing ceremony of the National Games - as more than a routine visit.
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