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'Arunachal could be another Kashmir'
The All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union said recently that it would boycott the Republic Day parade to protest India's silence over repeated Chinese claims to the state
Warns AP student union leader Takam Tatung, as government remains tight-lipped about stapled visas from China
Territorial disputes with India's northern neighbour still have their casualties. Only, the wounds are inflicted by stand-alone papers, instead of weapons, believe residents of Arunachal Pradesh.
After Arunachal weightlifter Yukar Sibi and his coach Techi Abraham were disbarred from going to China because their visas to the neighbouring country were stapled onto their passports, NGOs and students in the state have been firing a salvo of criticism against the Government of India.
The athletic duo had been invited by the communist country after being selected for the Asian Games.
But, Indian authorities did not accept the stapled visas issued by China, leading detractors to infer that the innocent were being made to suffer on account of unresolved border disputes with China.
Recently, the All Arunachal Pradesh Students' Union (AAPSU) said it would boycott the Republic Day parade to protest India's silence over repeated Chinese claims to the state.
MiD DAY spoke with the president of AAPSU, Takam Tatung, who warned that the government's indecision and indifference could push Arunachal into the same chaos that now grips Jammu and Kashmir.
AAPSU ruling
"China is regularly putting in claims that AP falls in their territory, but our own government always prefers to remain silent.
Are we or are we not citizens of this country? Why does the Government of India not speak up on the issue? These questions need to be answered before AP becomes another J&K.
We are still seeing China issuing stapled visas to our people, which means that the issue is unresolved," said Tatung.
He said that the issue had been raised before AP Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu and the governor many times. But, they have been evasive on the matter.
"We have approached the Prime Minister's Office and have been allotted time to meet PM Manmohan Singh on January 25, after which we will decide what needs to be done."
The leader of the parent body of all student unions in the state cautioned that if the Indian government does not take strong measures to stake its claim on AP, it would affect the minds of the youth in the state, who are already battling an identity crisis, wondering where they belong.
"Therefore, I appeal to the youth and people of this country to support us and ask the Government of India to explain its stand on AP," added Tatung.
AP Home Minister Tako Dabi spoke to MiD DAY and uttered words of pacification.
"India should address the concerns of AP in a very clear manner with China and not send out signals to the people that their issues are not represented properly before a country, which is falsely claiming its position on the state."
Dabi further said that the issue has been resolved and AAPSU will not boycott the January 26 celebrations.
The Visa Row
The Chinese embassy stamps visas to residents of AP and J&K on a separate sheet of paper and staples it to the passport, instead of pasting it directly on the passports.
The practice is seen by the government as China's attempt to question the status of the two states as intrinsic parts of India. As such, it does not recognise the stapled visas.
Protesting the practice, New Delhi maintains that such visas are not valid for travel out of the country.
The foreign ministry also issued a travel advisory asking Indian citizens to ascertain from the Chinese embassy and consulates whether the visa would be stapled or pasted before making any travel arrangements.
