‘Doodh maango kheer denge, Arunachal maango cheer denge!’

Staff Reporter

ITANAGAR, Nov 3: “Doodh maango kheer denge, Arunachal maango cheer denge!” echoed in the streets of the state capital here this morning when thousands of students took to the streets to protest against repeated claims by China over Arunachal Pradesh.

Traffic on the national highway literally came to halt for about an hour during the protest rally organized by the Rajiv Gandhi University Students’ Union (RGUSU) in collaboration with All Arunachal Pradesh Students’ Union (AAPSU) and Arunachal Law Students’ Union (ALSU). The protest was staged simultaneously by executive members of AAPSU at the Jantar Mantar in New Delhi this morning.

The rally, which started from the Dera Natung Government College with slogans like “We are Indians, go back China” and “Wake up Arunachal”, culminated at the Mopin-Solung ground at 0’ Point Tinali, where the students sat on a peaceful Dharna.

Speaking to The Sentinel RGUSU President Tayuk Sonam said, “China has no right to claim our land. Arunachal is an integral part of India and we are Indians” as he expressed solidarity with the AAPSU’s endeavor to draw national attention to the contentious issue. He informed that most of the colleges of the State today called the classes off to join the protest.

RGUSU vice president David Gao, while also expressing his indignation over the Chinese claims, appealed to the Central government to intervene in discriminating acts by a few people on North-east students, particularly on those studying at the national capital and other parts of the country.

“We do not want to be part of China because we are Indians and the Chinese claim is unjustified,” said Jasmine Sonam, a 3rd semester student of the University.

AAPSU convenor Ringu Kuku expressed the Union’s sentiment. He said, “China’s repeated claim is a big concern for the country and the Central government should take the matter very seriously.”

Expressing solidarity with the AAPSU, Arunachal Law Students Union (ALSU) president P L Murtem said, “We strongly support AAPSU and condemn China’s baseless claims.” He also refuted China’s objection to the visit of His Holiness Dalai Lama to the State.

Official sources from Pasighat informed this evening that the oldest college of the State, Jawaharlal Nehru College, was today closed with suspension of classes in extension of solidarity with the mass students movement against the Chinese claims.

Meanwhile, the RGUSU condoled the tragic death of Kenyir Rina, a third semester student of Hindi department of the University, who died in a road accident on way to Dibrugarh on November 1 last. THE SENTINEL