harbans wrote:Surprisingly this is the BIGGEST capitulation to the Chinese in recent times. I was yesterday handing it over to the GOI that they've called off border talks on this conference..but this is an event of tremendous significance. Like India breaking it's bonds with Dharma. Surprising BRF'ites have not registered the import..yet. This is bigger the SeS and others folks. To live through this depravity on the part of the GOI is heart burning..to say the least.
Harbansji, I believe it has been typical of GoI in the majority of cases to blink first when negotiating with China.
This is another example of the lengths GoI will go to appease Chinese concerns. We have already seen similar non-sensical reasons cited in order to not offend Pakistanis. Basically, give up your beliefs so that your proclaimed enemies' sensitivities are not hurt. Spineless. Also I have doubts if a BJP led government would have behaved differently in the same scenario.
As for Dharma, given its track record in 'secularism', isn't it naive to expect this government to even have Dharma as a consideration when taking decisions?
From
here, the reason why the Chinese's last demand - 'cancellation of the congregation' - was not fulfilled - because "
ministers and officials of nearly half a dozen countries having already confirmed participation for the congregation, and given the scale and purpose of the event, New Delhi just could not concede to Beijing"The first aspect to strike Beijing were the dates, which coincided with the SR-level talks on November 28-29. Second, the Dalai Lama was to deliver the valedictory address. Third, the organisers had claimed that the Indian President would inaugurate the congregation, and that the Prime Minister too may be present. Fourth, it would bring together Buddhist delegates from China’s neighbouring countries, put them on a common platform with the Dalai Lama, and get them all to plant saplings in a show of solidarity along with a common declaration.
All of this was too much for Beijing to digest. It made its first demand about 10 days back, asking India to keep the Dalai Lama out of this conference. New Delhi responded that the government had nothing to do with a “private enterprise”. Beijing pointed to claims by the organisers that the President and the PM may be present.
By now, South Block was worried. So, after internal consultations, the Chinese were assured that President and the Prime Minister would not be there. Initial plans to have the Dalai Lama at the inaugural dinner were scrapped. India also assured China that no Indian leader would share the platform with the Dalai Lama.
In consequence, the Dalai Lama was to reach Delhi on November 29, but attend no public function on that day. In trying to somehow salvage the situation, the Indian side pointed out that any public utterance by the Dalai Lama would come after the boundary talks had concluded. The government also assured adequate security arrangements in case the Chinese side feared protests.
At this point, China raised the stakes and said it would agree to nothing less than the congregation being called off. It was clear that the Dalai Lama was not the principal reason for the Chinese obduracy. With ministers and officials of nearly half a dozen countries having already confirmed participation for the congregation, and given the scale and purpose of the event, New Delhi just could not concede to Beijing.