The Indian government spelled out to China that there would be no ban on anti-China protests in India. The need for such a clarification arose after the CPM led West Bengal government, who are known to be the ardent supporters of the Communist government of China, banned Tibet protest rallies around April 17 in the state. The central government hence refused to take cue from the communist leaders of the state of West Bengal.

 

The rising apprehension of the Chinese government is due to the fact that the date for Olympic relay for its India leg is fast approaching. Government sources revealed that India is jointly chalking out the details with China on the security system for the torch relay. The request of the Chinese government for being a part of the security ring for the Olympic flame in India has been turned down. Apart from the sovereignty issue associated with the decision, the presence of Chinese security officers may also call trouble for the Tibetans who are at the risk of being ruffled up by Chinese officers.

 

India was the nation which gave the Buddhist Spiritual leader, Dalai Lama a home when the 1959 uprising rocked Tibet. Along with His Holiness Dalai Lama, several Tibetan nationals are also living in exile in India. The protests have however somewhat strained the relations between the two Asian powers. India has, however, chosen to remain diplomatically silent over the issue. However PM Manmohan Singh’s statement to US lawmaker Nancy Pelosi on her recent visit to the country, calling Dalai Lama the ‘greatest living Gandhian’ is a reflection of the soft corner India has for Tibet.