Congress leader urges Centre to be careful of errors on Arunachal Pradesh map

Congress leader and former AICC in-charge of Arunachal Pradesh, Luizinho Faleiro today urged the Centre to be more cautious next time about the north east state, which was allegedly projected as a disputed region in a map circulated during the signing of MoUs with China in Gujarat this year. Addressing a press conference, Faleiro said he was happy that Manohar Parrikar was elevated to the position of Union Defence Minister but his government should ensure that they should not commit mistakes like those of Arunachal.

"As a Goan, I am happy that a Goan has been elevated to the post of the Defence Minister. We want a strong and vibrant defence ministry and so we wish him success," he said. "I was a little upset sometimes back when I was holding a position of General Secretary AICC incharge of Arunachal Pradesh. When the Chinese premier came visiting India in September, the Gujarat government had signed some MoUs in the presence of PM Narendra Modi and distributed some maps showing Arunachal as a Chinese territory," he said.

Faleiro said this had angered people in that state. "Such kind of mistakes should not take place on the part of Government of India because our valiant soldiers are fighting to maintain the integrity and protecting the borders of our country," he added.

Parrikar addressing a press conference in Goa on Wednesday had claimed that the reported incidents of intrusion by China into Arunachal Pradesh were of minor nature and they are being tackled by the area commanders of the armed forces.