China protest over Narendra Modi's Arunachal visit unnecessary: Kiren Rijiju

NEW DELHI: In the wake of Chinese protest over Narendra Modi's visit to Arunachal Pradesh, Union Minister Kiren Rijiju today described the development as "unnecessary" saying the Prime Minister's tour was part of his "bounded obligation".

"It is absolutely unnecessary. They have been raising this issue from time to time. The visit was a bounded obligation of the Prime Minister to (part of) his own country. There should be no objection whatsoever," Rijiju told reporters here.

The Minister of State for Home said the status of Arunachal Pradesh is undisputed and unquestionable and the Prime Minister is free to visit any part of the country, including the northeastern state.

"Arunachal Pradesh being a very important state of the country, there is no question of any dispute over this territory. There are problems in a few kilometres of border for which negotiations are going on," Rijiju, who hails from Arunachal Pradesh, said.

China had lodged a strong protest with India over Modi's visit to Arunachal Pradesh and expressed its "diametrical opposition" to the trip which it said was not conducive for resolving the border dispute.