The Hindu : India-China ties

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Jun 27, 2003

Opinion

Opinion - Letters to the Editor

India-China ties

Sir, — Your Editorial `Triumph of Pragmatism' ( June 25 ) aptly sums up the beginning of a new chapter in India-China relations which have been muddled up for decades by successive Indian Governments more by sentimentalism than by pragmatism, especially after Nehru granted asylum to the Dalai Lama and permission to establish a Tibetan Government-in-exile on Indian soil which is indulging in anti-China activities detrimental to India-China relations. Our Government getting embroiled in the Karmapa issue was unwarranted and had a deleterious effect.

There is no way the Dalai Lama can regain Tibet unless India and China wage a war over the issue which is unthinkable. This is a festering sore which is better removed. The issue of the Dalai Lama's continuation of his own exile, the existence of his Government on Indian soil and the future of Tibetans who have been treated humanely by India all these decades and have almost settled here are matters to be sorted out by the Dalai Lama in which India should not meddle keeping the main India-China relations in focus.

However, the Tibetans can be given the option to choose between Indian or Chinese citizenship once Tibet becomes part of China.

K. Rangaswami,
Bangalore

Sir, — Tibetans are winners and so are we! The recent India-China agreements are one of the biggest achievements of the BJP-NDA Government. The blunder of 1962 has finally been corrected now. India's acceptance of Tibet as part of China and China's acceptance of Sikkim as part of India have finally proved that peace and economics have prevailed over old, rigid positions.

Opening up of the India-China road link through Sikkim will incidentally bring the much-needed economic development to the northeast region, which the Indian Government was unable to give. This will also stop the illegal import of Chinese goods via Nepal.

The success of the Chinese visit also goes to the Chinese Desk at the Indian Foreign Office.This agreement now opens new doors for the Tibetan youth in India too. Leaving the old issue of Tibetan independence, they can now join hands with the prosperous Chinese economic juggernaut. But in no circumstances should India disown the Dalai Lama.

Sushil Mehra,
Bangalore

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