In the face of a belligerent China trying to pull strings in the Indian subcontinent by extending a friendly hand to India’s neighbours, the Ministry of External Affairs on Thursday said that New Delhi is closely watching the three-step roadmap by Beijing to expedite the Bhutan-China boundary negotiations.

“We have noted the development. We are aware that they have been holding boundary negotiations,” MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said on Bhutan and China signing an MoU.

His statements have come a day after India strongly rejected China’s objection to Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu’s recent visit to Arunachal Pradesh, stressing that the northeastern state is an “integral and inalienable part of India”, and such a response from Beijing “does not stand to the reason and understanding” of Indians.

Bagchi said that India expects the Chinese side to work towards a speedy resolution of issues in eastern Ladakh.

“We have noted the comments made today by the Chinese official spokesperson. We reject such comments. Arunachal Pradesh is an integral and inalienable part of India. Indian leaders routinely travel to the state of Arunachal Pradesh as they do to any other state of India. Objecting to the visit of Indian leaders to a state of India does not stand to reason and understanding of Indian people,” the MEA spokesperson said yesterday.

Meanwhile, multiple incidents of vandalism emerged from Bangladesh over the past couple of days where miscreants broke Durga idols and pandals amid the pompous festival.

“We have seen some reports of attacks on religious gatherings in Bangladesh. We note that Bangladesh government has reacted strongly to it. We also understand that Durga Puja celebrations continue in Bangladesh. Our High Commission is in close contact with authorities,” the MEA spokesperson said

.In Bangladesh’s Nanua Dighi area in Comilla, a Durga idol was reportedly thrown into a pond after the mob alleged that a copy of the Holy Quran was placed at the feet of Goddess Durga.