Arunachal Pradesh Visit: 'Nobody Can Take Our Land,' Says Amit Shah; Launches Vibrant Villages Programme

Amit Shah, the Union Home Minister, said no one can question "India's territorial integrity" amid China's objection to his Arunachal Pradesh visit. "Nobody can encroach even pin's tip worth of our land," he said.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson stated, earlier today, that Home Minister Amit Shah's visit to Arunachal Pradesh opposes China's territorial sovereignty and is seen as a violation.

Kibithoo, Arunachal Pradesh's easternmost village, saw the Home Minister launch country's 'Vibrant Villages Programme'.

"Before 2014, the entire Northeast region was known as a disturbed region but in the last 9 years, because of PM Modi's 'Look East' policy, Northeast is now considered an area which contributes to the development of the country," Shah said.

The Home Minister said, "The entire country can sleep peacefully in their homes today because our ITBP jawans and army is working day and night on our borders. Today, we can proudly say that no one has the power to cast an evil eye on us."

"Today, we say with pride that gone are the days when anybody could encroach on India's land. Today, we can proudly say that no one can encroach even a tip of a pin's worth of our land because ITBP and Indian Army are present at our borders.

"I salute the sacrifices of all the jawans. Whosoever came to encroach the land here in 1962 had to return because of your patriotism," he added.

China renamed Arunachal Pradesh's 11 areas, claiming them as their own territory, last week.

"Zangnan is China's territory," spokesperson Wang Wenbin said in response to a question on the visit to Arunachal Pradesh by Home Minister Amit Shah.

"This is not the first time that China is making such attempts, and we have criticised such attempts. Arunachal Pradesh is an inalienable part of India. China giving its own inventive names will not change the ground reality. I would like to re-emphasise that," Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi had said last week.

Also Read: China's Contention Continues: Amit Shah's Arunachal Visit Draws Beijing's Ire, Following Recent 'Renaming' Of 11 Places