Govt's Tibet policy earns praise

CPI(M) 19TH PARTY CONGRESS

After drawing continuous flak for alleged pro-US tilt in its foreign policy, the UPA government finally got some consolation prize from CPI(M) general secretary Prakash Karat. The reason: India's stand on the recent tension in Tibet.

Appreciating the UPA government's stand, which did not support the violence in Tibet and maintained "one China" stand, Karat today came down heavily on the BJP for instigating separate state of Tibet.

"When Atal Bihari Vajpayee was the prime minister, he signed agreement with China maintaining that Tibet is a part of China," Karat said in Coimbatore today.

The CPI(M) backed its unqualified support for China against the long-standing demand for Tibetan freedom by citing possible domestic repercussions.

"Certain western powers seem to believe that sovereign rights can be abridged in the name of human rights. In our country too, some people joined the chorus. They are doing a disservice to the nation. Will they also raise their voice in support of a free Nagaland or a free Jammu and Kashmir," Karat asked.

The CPI(M) general secretary also hailed India's stand that it did not recognise Taiwan as a separate state and maintained Tibet as an autonomous region of the China. "India has always taken this correct position," Karat said.

According to Karat, the problems in Tibet have to be solved only through negotiations between the representatives of the Dalai Lama and the Chinese government.

"In the present day world, in many big countries, there are problems of multi-language or right of self determination of ethnic population. But these have to be solved in a democratic manner," Karat said.