Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has urged the Indian government to reciprocate China’s renaming of 30 places in Arunachal Pradesh by releasing 60 geographical names to the Tibetan region under Chinese administration.
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Assam CM Suggests Reciprocal Action Amid Arunachal Naming Spat
Amidst the current tensions regarding China’s renaming of locations in Arunachal Pradesh, Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma proposed on Tuesday that India should respond in kind by disclosing the Indian names of 60 locations in the Tibet region under China’s jurisdiction. Sarma conveyed this message during a press conference held in Guwahati, emphasizing, “I urge the Indian government to unveil 60 geographical names for the Tibetan region administered by China.”
He additionally remarked, “Reciprocity is essential; I prefer not to elaborate further as it pertains to the policy decisions of the Indian government. However, if they have renamed 30, we should rename 60.”
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MEA Rejects China’s Renaming of Arunachal Pradesh
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) strongly opposed China’s ongoing attempts to rename locations in Arunachal Pradesh, emphasizing that these actions do not alter the fact that the state remains an integral and inseparable part of India.
China’s Ministry of Civil Affairs recently issued the fourth list of standardized geographical names in Zangnan, referring to Arunachal Pradesh as part of south Tibet.
Jaishankar questions China’s renaming strategy amidst India-China tensions
External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, speaking at a press conference, responded to China’s actions by questioning the significance of changing names, stating, “If I change the name of your house, will it become mine? Arunachal Pradesh was, is, and will always be an integral part of India. Altering names will not change this fact.”
This statement comes amid strained relations between India and China, particularly due to ongoing tensions in certain areas of eastern Ladakh since May 2020. While both nations have disengaged from several points, India maintains that maintaining peace and stability along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) is crucial for normalizing overall relations.
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