New Delhi:
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has reacted to the statement issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry, but are you disappointed, disgusted or angered by the statement?
We have stated in our reaction through the Ministry of External Affairs that we are disappointed with the stand taken by China. We have stated that on the floor of the House and outside it that Arunachal Pradesh is part and parcel of India. It is the position of the government that Arunachal Pradesh is part of India. There is no other question about it.
The Chinese statement comes at a time when you are trying to assuage the people of India that there is no increase in incursions on the border, that there is nothing to worry. Are you concerned that the statement came on a day when the people of Arunachal voted?
It is significant that just today voting took place in Arunachal Pradesh. I was talking to the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh and he has given me the figures that say 72% of the people in the state have exercised their right to franchise. So, Arunachal Pradesh has joined the mainstream Indian democratic process and is an irrevocable part of India.
Do you believe that voter turnout may have made China nervous and hence it reacted this way?
I think that also could have brought about such a large turnout in the elections. And we are pleased with the way people have reacted. The Prime Minister knows that the people of Arunachal Pradesh are with us when we say that Arunachal Pradesh is part and parcel of India.
The Chinese Ambassador was in the External Affairs Ministry. Hope India has conveyed to China in no uncertain terms that it is disappointed.
I think that was the purpose for which the Chinese Ambassador was called to the Foreign Ministry. We would have conveyed whatever we have said in our statement which has been given to the media.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) says that the government needs to give a strong reply. Do we need to review how we are responding to China?
I do not think so. We always talk firmly. We talk very consistently and so naturally whatever we say is said with conviction. And there is no dilly-dallying as far as government of India's position is concerned.
You had told me earlier that Dalai Lama's visit to Arunachal will continue as long as he does not make any political statement. Does that remain your position even today?
It is regardless of what happens in terms of reactions from whatever quarters. We have taken a principled stand with reference to his holiness Dalai Lama. That he is free to travel wherever he wants to within India, including Arunachal Pradesh, which is part of India. But, he certainly will not dabble in politics. That is the only restriction.
If you were to sum up Sino-India relations at this point of time, what will you say?
I would still say we have a cordial relationship with China. We would like to continue that. We would like to extend it to various other areas. And we hope that China would constructively reciprocate.
Will you be speaking to somebody in China personally or you think it is not needed?
Let us see how the situation develops.
On a day that China "strongly protested" against Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's recent visit to Arunachal Pradesh and India firmly gave back stating it was "disappointed" by the Chinese protest, Foreign Minister S M Krishna speaks to NDTV's Barkha Dutt, in an exclusive interview.
The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) has reacted to the statement issued by the Chinese Foreign Ministry, but are you disappointed, disgusted or angered by the statement?
We have stated in our reaction through the Ministry of External Affairs that we are disappointed with the stand taken by China. We have stated that on the floor of the House and outside it that Arunachal Pradesh is part and parcel of India. It is the position of the government that Arunachal Pradesh is part of India. There is no other question about it.
The Chinese statement comes at a time when you are trying to assuage the people of India that there is no increase in incursions on the border, that there is nothing to worry. Are you concerned that the statement came on a day when the people of Arunachal voted?
It is significant that just today voting took place in Arunachal Pradesh. I was talking to the Governor of Arunachal Pradesh and he has given me the figures that say 72% of the people in the state have exercised their right to franchise. So, Arunachal Pradesh has joined the mainstream Indian democratic process and is an irrevocable part of India.
Do you believe that voter turnout may have made China nervous and hence it reacted this way?
I think that also could have brought about such a large turnout in the elections. And we are pleased with the way people have reacted. The Prime Minister knows that the people of Arunachal Pradesh are with us when we say that Arunachal Pradesh is part and parcel of India.
The Chinese Ambassador was in the External Affairs Ministry. Hope India has conveyed to China in no uncertain terms that it is disappointed.
I think that was the purpose for which the Chinese Ambassador was called to the Foreign Ministry. We would have conveyed whatever we have said in our statement which has been given to the media.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) says that the government needs to give a strong reply. Do we need to review how we are responding to China?
I do not think so. We always talk firmly. We talk very consistently and so naturally whatever we say is said with conviction. And there is no dilly-dallying as far as government of India's position is concerned.
You had told me earlier that Dalai Lama's visit to Arunachal will continue as long as he does not make any political statement. Does that remain your position even today?
It is regardless of what happens in terms of reactions from whatever quarters. We have taken a principled stand with reference to his holiness Dalai Lama. That he is free to travel wherever he wants to within India, including Arunachal Pradesh, which is part of India. But, he certainly will not dabble in politics. That is the only restriction.
If you were to sum up Sino-India relations at this point of time, what will you say?
I would still say we have a cordial relationship with China. We would like to continue that. We would like to extend it to various other areas. And we hope that China would constructively reciprocate.
Will you be speaking to somebody in China personally or you think it is not needed?
Let us see how the situation develops.
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