New Delhi: BJP on Thursday expressed its ire at
China's advice to West Bengal government not to welcome the
Dalai Lama, saying this was an "intervention" in India's
affairs and suggested a protest be lodged with the Chinese
Ambassador.
BJP spokesperson and MP Tarun Vijay maintained that
China's advice to West Bengal government not to welcome and
not to attend the Dalai Lama's programme was "unacceptable".
"We condemn it as a direct intervention in our national
affairs. Government of India should call the Chinese
Ambassador to lodge its protest," he said, noting that a
minister from the External Affairs Ministry should have been
sent to attend the Tibetan spiritual leader's programme.
He said Chinese "arrogance" has been on the rise in
recent times, and this was "bruising Indian sentiments".
"We must convey our displeasure in strong words at such
a development which goes against the spirit of bilateral
relations," Vijay said.
BJP has often spoken strongly against Chinese
"incursions" into Indian territory in Arunachal Pradesh and
Ladakh as well as on the stapled visa controversy.
The opposition party has also alleged that the UPA
government was "soft" towards China and that it should exert
international pressure on the neighbouring country to make
it "mend its ways".
PTI
First Published: Thursday, December 01, 2011, 20:51