Date:31/05/2007 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2007/05/31/stories/2007053115971400.htm

National

Arunachal Chief Minister meets Manmohan

New Delhi: Days after China denied a visa to an IAS officer from Arunachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Dorji Khandu on Wednesday met Prime Minister Manmohan Singh here and urged the Centre to lodge a strong protest over Beijing's repeated claims on the State.

"The people of Arunachal Pradesh are Indians. We are part of India by heart. We are born as Indians, live as Indians and die as Indians," Mr. Khandu told PTI after his meeting with Dr. Singh.

"We are deeply hurt over the denial of visa to an IAS officer from our State," the Chief Minister said.

He said the Prime Minister assured him that the Government would take appropriate action and raise the issue at the appropriate fora.

Beijing's decision to deny visa prompted the Government to cancel a mid-level training programme under which 107 IAS officers were to go to China. — PTI