Itanagar, Sep 10: The Arunachal Pradesh Congress Committee (APCC) has strongly objected to the depiction of Arunachal Pradesh in a recently released United Nations world map, alleging that the State has been shown between Indian and Chinese claim lines.
In a statement issued here on Thursday, APCC president Bosiram Siram asserted that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India and said any international cartographic representation creating ambiguity over its territorial status was unacceptable.
The APCC said no map, claim line, nomenclature or assertion by any foreign power could alter India's sovereignty over Arunachal Pradesh. It maintained that the State's territorial status could not be determined by cartographic representations or unilateral claims.
Siram welcomed the Government of India's objection to what it described as inaccurate or misleading depiction of India's sovereign territory. He said India's support for a UN General Assembly resolution concerning equal-area cartographic representation was aimed at improving the accuracy of world-map projections and should not be construed as acceptance of any particular map, boundary or territorial claim.
The APCC said Arunachal Pradesh has been administered through India's constitutional, administrative and democratic institutions since Independence and its people have continuously participated in the country's democratic process.
The party urged the UN to maintain the highest standards of accuracy and neutrality in its maps and geographical publications and called for a review and correction of the depiction of Arunachal Pradesh in its maps and geographical databases.
The APCC also sought clarification from the concerned UN authorities on the boundary data used in preparing the map, the rationale behind depicting Arunachal Pradesh between competing claim lines, whether the representation differs from India's official position, and whether India's objection has been examined.
Expressing concern over China's continued territorial claims through cartographic assertions and renaming of places, the APCC called for sustained diplomatic vigilance and a clear assertion of India's territorial position.
The party, however, said India's response should extend beyond diplomatic objections and called for stronger national presence and accelerated development in frontier areas. It sought all-weather connectivity, better roads, telecommunications, logistics, healthcare, education and security infrastructure in border areas.
APCC called for continued development of frontier areas under programmes such as the Vibrant Villages Programme and border-area development initiatives, besides strengthening infrastructure under the Vikshit Arunachal Mission.
It also demanded greater constitutional protection for Arunachal Pradesh, including appropriate strengthening of Article 371H to safeguard indigenous land, customary institutions, cultural identity and natural resources.
The APCC said Arunachal Pradesh is a vital frontier of the country and that stronger infrastructure, connectivity, security and economic development in border areas would provide a stronger response to any cartographic or territorial assertion.
The party reiterated that Arunachal Pradesh's integration with India was non-negotiable and said it would continue to advocate for the State's constitutional rights, frontier security and the aspirations of its people.