India, March 19 -- India on Tuesday rejected as "absurd" the Chinese side's claim over Arunachal Pradesh, saying the northeastern state is an integral and inalienable part of the country.

Last week, the spokesperson of the Chinese defence ministry contended that Arunachal Pradesh is "China's inherent territory" and that Beijing "firmly opposes" India's establishment of the state.

Responding to these remarks, external affairs ministry spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the Chinese side had made "absurd claims over the territory of the Indian State of Arunachal Pradesh".

Jaiswal added: "Repeating baseless arguments in this regard does not lend such claims any validity. Arunachal Pradesh was, is and will always be an integral and inalienab...