Arunachal is an integral part of India: Pranab

Arunachal is an integral part of India: PranabExternal Affairs Minister Pranab Mukherjee on Sunday asserted that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India.

"China is often making claims on Arunachal Pradesh, but Arunachal Pradesh has a special place in our heart," he said.

Pranab visited 400-year-old Buddhist monastery here in this border town, the second in importance to the one at Lhasa, Tibet.

"People of Arunachal Pradesh regularly elect two representatives to the Lok Sabha and there is an elected state assembly carrying out the responsibility of administration like any of other 27 states. The question of parting company of Arunachal or any of its part does not arise," Mukherjee said.

Prime Minister Manmohan Singh during his visit to the north-eastern state before few months said that state that Arunachal was 'our land of rising sun'.

Pranab also attended the 8th Buddha Mahotsava as Chief Guest. There he said "both India and China are seeking a peaceful solution to the border dispute. The special representatives of the Prime Ministers of both India and China have completed 12 rounds of talks.

Tawang is the birth place of 6th Dalai Lama.