Arunachal: Border dispute and development

Chonmipem Horam

With over seven lakhs voters, Arunachal Pradesh is all set to go to polls in the first phase on April 16. There are eight contenders to clash for two seats from Arunachal west and Arunachal east. Among these contenders are two sitting BJP MPs Kiren Rijiju and Tapir Gao seeking re-election, while ruling Congress has fielded Takam Sanjoy and Ninong Ering against them. Other local party candidates in the fray are Taba Taku of Lok Bharati, Subu Kechi (Independent) for the West seat and L Wanglat and Samson Borang of People`s Party of Arunachal, L Owangch Wanglat for the east seat. All the parties are focusing on more or less the similar issues pledging to work for development, healthcare, education and infrastructure along with making efforts to create maximum employment opportunities. Presently, Arunachal is considered as the most peaceful region among the North East states. The main issue of the state has always been the border dispute with the neighbouring China claiming the state as a part of its territory. The People`s Republic of China (mainland China) and the Republic of China (Taiwan) claim portions of the state as part of Tibet Autonomous Region since Tibet was under the sovereignty of China. China insisted that it never recognized the McMahon Line that was drawn as the international border between India and China way back during the British rule. China also claimed that the status of the border was never officially demarcated. However, for the time being the stern response from Union External affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee saying Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India and China`s observations about the state is absolutely flawed, has given a strong message across the border. There are intelligence inputs of incursion of militants groups like outlawed United Liberation Front of Assam using mountainous base to carry out their strikes. Of late, there are also reports of threat from National Socialist Council of Nagaland (NSCN) operating its base in districts of Changlang and Tirasp harassing the local people. Extortions, kidnappings are common in this region. This region is at the receiving end with separatist organizations using Arunachal as a transit point. Amidst this scenario, the political battle is on among the rivals putting across the message among electorate to prove their worth.