Dear Editor,
In October 2006 the then Defense Minister of India AK Anthony was scheduled to attend inaugural function of Buddha Mahotsava Festival at Tawang as Chief Guest. I was excited to record his speech at Tawang on camera but he cancelled his visit and in his place Smti Sonia Gandhi the then Chairperson of UPA arrived at Tawang and graced the festival. I led Outdoor Broadcasting Van of the NE TV and organized live telecast of her speech and other events. During her speech I heard her addressing people of Arunachal Pradesh: Aap Hamara Hai, Ham Aap Ka Hai. It was in Hindi and it can be translated in English in this way “you belong to me and I belong to you”. At that moment I was rather expecting that she might use some sentence like “Arunachal is integral part of India and no one can take it away from India” but she did not. According to me it was demand of the situation for her to pass a strong message at Tawang which borders China and is always on the focus of Chinese. Had there been any press meet I would have asked her about it but there was no any press meet and therefore I had to return from Tawang with mere memory of her speech which is still fresh in my mind.
It was on 27th August, 2014 that seven BJP MLAs of Arunachal Pradesh under leadership of legislator Tamiyo Taga along with MoS Home Kiren Rijiju met Prime Minister Nerendra Modi and the submitted a memorandum urging him to declare whole part of Arunachal Pradesh as Border State and PM Modi accepted it in principle which appeared in media. Almost three and half years have already passed but no any outcome has been seen in this regard. PM Modi in his speech on 15th February 2018 at IG Park, Itanagar should throw some light regarding Chinese claim on Arunachal.
Yours,
Taro Chatung,
Senior Journalist