'Nobody can take an inch of our land': Amit Shah's strong message to China from Arunachal

Union Home Minister Amit Shah launched the 'Vibrant Villages Programme' (VVP) in Kibithoo, a village along the India-China border in Arunachal Pradesh, on Monday, amid stiff opposition from Beijing. 

"No one can question India's territorial integrity. Nobody can take even an inch of our land," Shah said addressing a gathering.

The minister said Prime Minister Narendra Modi's 'Look East' policy has enabled the Northeast region to contribute to the development of the country.

“Before 2014, the entire Northeast region was known as a disturbed region but in the last 9 years, because of PM Modi's 'Look East' policy, Northeast is now considered an area which contributes to the development of the country,” he said.

Meanwhile, China on Monday strongly opposed Shah's visit to Arunachal saying his activities in the area was violating Beijing's territorial sovereignty. 

"The Indian official's visit to Zangnan violates China's territorial sovereignty, and is not conducive to the peace and tranquility of the border situation," said foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin. 

China had recently given new names to 11 places in Arunachal in an attempt to assert its claim over the Indian state.

India, however, responded to it saying that the state has "always been" and will "always be" an integral part of India and that assigning "invented" names does not alter this fact.