Did Congress not name candidates in Arunachal over ‘fear of China’? Viral claim is false

What is the claim?

As the 2024 Indian general election looms, a viral claim circulating on social media alleges that the Indian National Congress (INC) has not fielded any candidates from Arunachal Pradesh. This claim attempts to link the purported absence of candidates to a supposed 2009 Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the Congress and the Chinese Communist Party (CCP).

According to a 2008 report by India Today, Congress and the CCP signed an MoU on “important bilateral, regional, and international developments.” The viral message insinuates a narrative suggesting that the lack of INC candidates in Arunachal Pradesh aligns with China’s interests.