Hitting out at China for giving Chinese names to some parts of Arunachal Pradesh, India today said inventing names to towns will not make China's claim legal.

External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Gopal Baglay also asserted that Arunachal Pradesh is an integral part of India.

"Assigning invented names to towns of your neighbour does not make illegal territorial claims legal. Arunachal Pradesh is and will always be an integral part of India," Baglay told reporters here.

When asked if India has taken up the matter with China, he said the Chinese government has not communicated anything officially so far and the ministry has seen only reports on the development.

China yesterday had announced that it has "standardised" official names for six places in the north-eastern state and termed the provocative move as a "legitimate action".

The official names of the six places using the Roman alphabet are Wogyainling, Mila Ri, Qoidengarbo Ri, Mainquka, Bumo La and Namkapub Ri.

The Chinese move came days after Beijing lodged strong protests with India over the Dalai Lama's visit to the frontier state.

(PTI inputs)

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