ITANAGAR, Feb 22 (IANS): Taking on China over a sensitive foreign policy issue, BJP's prime ministerial candidate Narendra Modi Saturday said Beijing will have to give up its "expansionist mindset" and that no power in the world can snatch Arunachal Pradesh from India.
Addressing a rally in Pasighat town, Modi said that China will have to quit its "vistarvadi mansikta (expansionist mindset)".
"There is no space for vistarvad in the world. The idea is development. How developed is the country, what it does for its people," he said.
"No power in the world can take Arunachal Pradesh from us", he said in an apparent reference to China's claim to the northeastern border state.
"I won't let this land get destroyed," he added.
Modi also said that India needs a government that is sensitive to the issues of the people of the northeastern states.
"The country needs a government that is ready to take initiatives for their development," he said.
He said that Arunachal Pradesh "has every potential to be world's environment capital because of the natural resources in the state".
"Herbal medicine, horticulture and handicrafts can make the state overcome the issues of unemployment and poverty as it is the sector which has till now has given employment to most number of people."
Attacking the Congress government in the state, he said it had done nothing towards water resource management and solar energy.
"Dynasty, nepotism, casteism will not help the state to come out of the problems the people here are undergoing," he added.
The Gujarat chief minister contended that he was a firm believer in development.
"The lotus will shine in all the states and bring prosperity and progress in the state," he said referring to his party's symbol.
He also expressed grief at the loss of Nido Tania, a student from the state who was beaten to death in the national capital last month.
