NEW DELHI – India’s decision to recognise Tibet as part of China has evoked strong reactions from timesofindia.com readers. While some termed it as “simply horrifying,” one reader called it “total stupidity”.
According to many readers, the Prime Minister, Atal Bihari Vajpayee, had finally gone and sold even the “semblance of integrity and worthiness that we possessed”. “Are we going to drive out the Dalai Lama and the Rinpoches from the country to please China? One reader asked.
“China has trespassed into Tibet and taken over the land that belonged to the Tibetans. While we pride ourselves on being free and independent, we now take away from the Tibetans who have entrusted themselves into our hands, their right to even demand freedom. Let’s now just wait in the stands and watch as the Tibetans in India move to other places as refugees and the Dalai Lama moves on to a country that offers him the dignity to see his peace process through,” wrote one incensed reader.
Another reader wrote, “Shame! India has betrayed the Tibetans! For years, they looked to us as friends. It hurts all the more when a friend betrays you. Generations of Tibetans suffered beatings, mutilation, poisoning, electric shocks, executions, and many more unspeakable torments. All that wouldn’t have hurt as much as it would now. The irreligious communists made the world believe that there never ever was a country called Tibet, and used that as an excuse to shamelessly run over the Tibetan identity. And why not, with India to approve of such murder, they can do it just any day, can’t they?”
However, another reader opined, “Definitely shifting from principle adopted for a long time is not an easy decision. But in the context of rapidly changing global landscape, if you can’t walk in same pace, your presence will be irrelevant. Considering all these factors, we should take few calculated moves. But how much benefit we get out of all these exercises is to be found out. Just for the sake of improving relationship with big power, we can’t keep our identity at stake.”
Scores of readers expressed concern over India’s decision, calling it “unfortunate”. “In fact, it was a sell-off even before Vajpayee left the Indian shores,” said a response from another reader.
