Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma while responding to China's attempt to rename 30 places of Arunachal Pradesh said that the Union Government should give 60 geographical names for the Tibetan area of China in what could be as 'tit for tat'.
The chief minister was addressing a public rally in Diphu, Assam amid election campaign for the upcoming Lok Sabha election, when he made the comments.
The Ministy of External Affairs has strongly condemned China's move and said, ""China has persisted with its senseless attempts to rename places in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. We firmly reject such attempts. Assigning invented names will not alter the reality that Arunachal Pradesh is, has been, and will always be an integral and inalienable part of India".
Meanwhile, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu taking strong objection to China's renaming efforts said that it is another gimmick from China. "Being a proud citizen of Bharat and a native of Arunachal Pradesh. I strongly condemn this act of naming places within Arunachal Pradesh which has been an integral part of India".
In recent years, China has repeatedly attempted to rename locations within Arunachal Pradesh, with the latest list being the fourth of its kind. These attempts are viewed by India as an infringement on its sovereignty and territorial integrity. Arunachal Pradesh, the Northeastern state stands united with India rejecting China’s interference in naming its places.
The CM and Jaiswal's remarks reaffirm India's unwavering stance on the issue, emphasizing that no amount of renaming by China will change the ground reality in Arunachal Pradesh.
Also read: Arunachal CM Pema Khandu slams China's place renaming move, calls act 'gimmick'