PM has every right to campaign in Arunachal Pradesh: Pranab

Rejecting China's claims over Arunachal Pradesh, Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee made it clear that the state is an integral part of the country and the prime minister has every right to visit it. Hindi-Chini: The great game | PodcastHow India should react to China's objection of PM's visit to Arunachal | Only employment visas for highly skilled Chinese: PC

Rejecting China's claims over Arunachal Pradesh, India on Wednesday made it clear that the state is an integral part of the country and its prime minister has every right to visit it.

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"Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India and the just-concluded Assembly election has proved that it was held under the Indian Constitution," Union Finance Minister Pranab Mukherjee told a press conference at WBPCC headquarters in Kolkata after a party state secretariat meeting.

Mukherjee said that just a few months back people of the state had sent their representatives to Parliament under the
Indian constitution.

It was therefore appropriate that the prime minister of the country should visit Arunachal Pradesh as leader of the
Congress party for election campaign, he said.

"I too visited Arunachal Pradesh for campaigning and we consider it as our legitimate right. It is a proper action on our part," Mukherjee emphasised.

The minister was reacting to Beijing's objection and protest over the prime minister's recent visit to Arunachal Pradesh.