In a snub to China, India today said Tawang and other areas of Arunachal Pradesh are its integral parts and will always remain so.
"Tawang and all of Arunachal Pradesh are part of India and will always remain a part of India. I think we have stated this more than once, reiterating it is not necessary...," Union home minister P Chidambaram, who is likely to visit the Buddhist town tomorrow, told reporters here.
China claims that the Buddhist town of Tawang and some other areas of Arunachal Pradesh are part of it. But India has always rejected these claims.
Chidambaram was supposed to visit Tawang yesterday but could not do so because of inclement weather.
"I will make another attempt to visit Tawang tomorrow,"
Chidambaram, who arrived here this morning from Guwahati, said.
Asked if his visit to Arunachal, which borders Myanmar, had anything to do with the much-speculated operations by Myanmarese army against northeast militants in base camps there, he said "everything cannot be discussed in public."
According to him, violence and militancy in the northeast have come down.
"We simply have to get more groups to talk to us. 2009 was a big success in containing militancy and talks through interlocutors are going on with some major groups including NSCN-IM.
On talks with ULFA, he said "We are ready to talk to ULFA and others also if they abjure violence and express willingness. However, there are splinter groups which are carrying out extortion and other unlawful activities. We will take firm action against them."
Chidambaram, accompanied by officials of his ministry, reviewed the law and order situation in the state, particularly Tirap and Changlang districts declared disturbed under Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act, with army, ITBP and security agencies.
