New Delhi: Congress and BJP Friday joined
hands in slamming China for its refusal to grant permission to
Northern Commander Lt Gen B S Jaswal to visit that country
because he comes from "sensitive" Jammu and Kashmir area.
"We must strongly condemn the Chinese step. The
Ministry of External Affairs and the Government must
immediately convey our displeasure in the strongest terms to
China. It is the worst kind of insult inflicted upon India by
denying permission to Jaswal to visit China," BJP spokesperson
Prakash Javdekar said.
He said China has always fomented trouble in Arunachal
Pradesh and they have now begun fishing in troubled waters in
Kashmir, adding, "This is helping Pakistan."
Javdekar said it should be made clear to China
unequivocally that Kashmir is not a disputed area and is an
integral part of India.
Congress spokesperson Manish Tewari said that India
has always maintained that it is interested in strengthening
and consolidating relations with China.
"However, the relationship has to be premised on self
respect and the sensitivities which concern each other," he
said.
Tewari said if there is any "unilateral violation" of
the same, "any reaction that happens in the country, it is
natural and justified and it should happen."
He expressed confidence that the MEA would do whatever
is required to be done.
"That is for the MEA to work out what are the best
modalities to raise it. I am sure the foreign office is
cognisant of it and will do whatever is required to be done,"
he said, when asked whether the party would demand the
government raise the issue with China seriously.
China has refused permission to Jaswal to visit that
country because he comes from "sensitive" Jammu and Kashmir
area.
Reacting strongly to this, India has put on hold
visits by Chinese military officials till the matter is
resolved.
PTI
