Amid conflicting claims over alleged Chinese intrusion in Arunachal Pradesh, the Arunachal Adivasi Congress (AAC) has urged the Central government to constitute a parliamentary committee to assess the ground situation along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) on the McMahon Line.
The AAC, the Adivasi wing of the Indian National Congress, said the proposed panel should examine the status of border infrastructure, civilian settlements and security arrangements in the frontier areas of Arunachal Pradesh and submit its findings to Parliament for appropriate action.
The organisation also criticised Union Minister Kiren Rijiju over his recent remarks dismissing reports of Chinese intrusion in Arunachal Pradesh. Questioning his role as an elected representative, AAC Chairman Tami Pangu asked why concerns raised by the public were being rejected without an assessment of the ground situation.
Pangu said Congress leader Rahul Gandhi has repeatedly raised issues relating to tribal rights, Chinese activities and alleged violations along the LAC in Parliament. He alleged that instead of addressing these concerns, Rijiju was focusing on criticising Rahul Gandhi for raising questions on national security.
The AAC demanded that Rijiju issue an unconditional apology to the people of Arunachal Pradesh and the country, and also step down on moral grounds.
The organisation further claimed that downplaying concerns related to border security could undermine public confidence and affect the morale of security forces deployed along the frontier.
There was no immediate response from Union Minister Kiren Rijiju or the Central government to the demands made by the AAC.
