India to China: Stop talking on internal matters

Assering that Beijing has no locus standi to comment on India's internal matters, MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said that the Union Territories of Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir have been, are & would remain an integral part of India.  

India has lashed out at China over its recent remarks on the political status of J&k, Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.

Assering that Beijing has no locus standi to comment on India's internal matters, MEA spokesperson Anurag Srivastava said that the Union Territories of Ladakh, Jammu & Kashmir have been, are & would remain an integral part of India.

The remarks come barely 48 hours after the Chinese foreign ministry stated that Beijing 'does not recognize the Ladakh Union Territory illegally set up by India' and opposes infrastructure building in the region.

The remarks were made in response to India inaugurating 44 new bridges near the borders.

China's Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian also called border infrastructure development 'the root cause for the tension between the two sides' and said neither side should take action that might escalate tension.

"China does not recognise the Ladakh Union Territory illegally set up by the Indian side and the Arunachal Pradesh. We stand against the development of infrastructure facilities aimed at military contention along the border area," he said.

However, India today sent a clear message to Beijing. 

"Arunachal Pradesh is also an integral part of India. This fact has also been clearly conveyed to the Chinese side on several occasions, including at the highest level," the MEA spokesman said.

"The government is focused on creating infrastructure for improving livelihood, economic welfare of people. Govt gives specific attention to development of border areas for economic development & to meet India's security,strategic requirements," he added.