NEW DELHI, India, Dec.8, Reuters: The Lok Sabha (Lower House) of the Indian Parliament passed a bill today establishing the remote territory of Arunachal Pradesh, the Northern boundary of which is in dispute with China, as India’s 24th state.
The House also approved a measure giving the Governor of the heavily forested territory in northeastern India, bordered by Bhutan and China, special powers for law and order because of its strategic location.
Earlier this year, India accused China of violating the northern border of the territory in the latest incident in the long standing border dispute between the two countries, The 81,426 sq. km (31,430 sqmile) territory, slightly larger than Scotland, has a population of 620,000 mostly tribal people. It has been administered as a territory of the Central Government.
Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi told the Lok Sabha (the House of the People) the measure would “fulfill the political aspirations of the people” and help spur development of the mountainous sparsely populated area.
‘The government sponsored measure also must be approved by the Upper House.
In August, Parliament approved the establishment of the state of Mizoram, a smaller northeastern territory, ending a 20year tribal insurgency.
Article extracted from this publication >> December 12, 1986
