New Delhi, May 14 || India on Tuesday lambasted China for its repeated and "preposterous" attempts to rename locations in Arunachal Pradesh, reaffirming that the north-eastern state is an integral and inalienable part of the country.
Responding to media queries over the matter, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) issued a strong statement rejecting China's actions.
"We have noticed that China has persisted with its vain and preposterous attempts to name places in the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh. Consistent with our principled position, we reject such attempts categorically. Creative naming will not alter the undeniable reality that Arunachal Pradesh was, is, and will always remain an integral and inalienable part of India," the MEA stated.
Despite India's consistent opposition, China reportedly released its fourth list in April, renaming 30 locations in Arunachal Pradesh, a move that India sees as a blatant disregard of sovereignty.
Reacting sharply to the development, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu had condemned the Chinese move in a post on X, saying, "Another gimmick from China. Being a proud citizen of Bharat and a native of Arunachal Pradesh, I strongly condemn this act of naming places within Arunachal Pradesh, which have been an inalienable integral part of India. Proud citizens and patriots of Arunachal Pradesh are rejecting such antics."