China’s nexus with NE ultras remains a challenge Nirendra Dev NEW DELHI, June 9: Notwithstanding the apparently forward-looking postures adopted by both sides during the just-concluded visit of the external affairs minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, to China, several vexed issues still remain unresolved between the two countries. A key aspect of these disputes revolves around North-east India vis-à-vis China’s support to North-east-based ultras. During Mr Mukherjee’s interaction with Chinese leaders, Beijing did raise the issue of Sikkim, which, of course, the Indian side brushed aside, taking the stance that it could not be part of their current talks since the Sikkim border was already finalised and settled in 1959. As far back as 1954, the Chinese government, taking refuge in the “old map”, had “incorporated” the entire North-east as a part of their territory, thereby betraying their designs on the region. In 1960, the Chinese came up with the idea of formation of a “Himalayan Federation” comprising Nepal, Sikkim and Arunachal Pradesh (erstwhile NEFA). In 1967, China supported the armed uprising by Leftist ultras in Naxalbari in West Bengal. The Chinese, intelligence sources maintain, had supported the uprising with the sole objective to cut off the strategic significant Indian north east from the rest of the country by cutting the “Siliguri Corridor”. The Naxalite uprising had been hailed in China as “Spring Thunder over India”. In 1967, Naga rebel leader Thuingal
