JOIN USWading into a foreign policy issue for the first time, Narendra Modi on Saturday asked China to shed its “expansionist mindset”, making it clear that power cannot snatch Arunachal Pradesh from India’s grip.
“China should shed its expansionist policy and forge bilateral ties with India for peace, progress and prosperity of both nations,” the BJP prime ministerial candidate said, addressing a meeting here for his current election campaign.
“Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India and will always remain so. No power can snatch it from us. The people of Arunachal Pradesh did not come under the pressure or fear of China,” he said.
“I swear in the name of this soil that I will never allow the state to disappear, break down or bow down,” Modi said, attracting a thunderous applause from people gathered near the mighty Siang River. He said that the world is not accepting of expansionist mindsets. The entire world is moving towards development, he said.
“China needs to change its stand. China should shed its expansionist mindset and adopt the plank of development. Focus is on development all over the world,” the Gujarat chief minister said. Appealing to patriotic sentiments, Modi said that Arunachal Pradesh remained an integral part of the country because of people who guard the state, as well as the country, as sentinels. “The people here are real patriots as they salute their counterparts with ‘Jai Hind’ and zealously protect the state’s territory. They gave a befitting reply to the advancing Chinese army in 1962 and the British. Several army personnel from the state also fought with Pakistan during the Kargil war,” he said.
Directly referring to the January 29 murder of Arunachal Pradesh youth Nido Taniam in Delhi, Modi cautioned the UPA government against underestimating the people of the state and added that it was the duty of the entire nation to protect citizens and the state’s territorial integrity.