Itanagar, Mar 29: Arunachal Pradesh Urban Affairs, Civil Aviation, and Land Management Minister Balo Raja on Friday discussed the state’s financial constraints with Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, highlighting the impact of alleged Chinese interference in securing international funding.

During a meeting in the national capital, Raja, accompanied by Itanagar Municipal Corporation Mayor Tame Phassang, informed Sitharaman that Arunachal Pradesh and Sikkim are the only states unable to access loans from global financial institutions such as the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and the World Bank, unlike other states and union territories.

“Due to protests from China, Arunachal Pradesh is being deprived of financial assistance from international institutions and is therefore fully dependent on central assistance, as it is a resource-crunch state,” Raja said, according to an official statement.

China has long laid claims over Arunachal Pradesh, calling it part of Southern Tibet, a stance that has reportedly obstructed the state’s access to global financial aid.

While expressing gratitude for the Centre’s support, Raja urged Sitharaman to facilitate pending grants for urban local bodies and sought additional funding for key development projects.

Sitharaman assured the minister of the central government’s unwavering commitment to Arunachal Pradesh’s growth and pledged continued financial assistance, the statement added.