Tibetans advised not to hurt India’s interests: Pranab

Tibetans advised not to hurt India’s interests: Pranab
Statesman News Service NEW DELHI, March 19:
The external affairs minister, Mr Pranab Mukherjee, told the Rajya Sabha today that Tibetans in India knew they could not indulge in any political activity “which can jeopardise our relations with any country.” Replying to members’ queries on a statement given by him on foreign policy developments, the minister asserted that India’s foreign policy was dictated by its interests, and modifications were made only to recognise emerging realities. Mr Mukherjee said the Dalai Lama was given all respect as a religious and spiritual leader. At the same time, the Tibetans given shelter along with their leader were “advised” not to indulge in any political activity that could create problems for India. “This is appreciated by him and he had only on 10 March thanked India for continuing unparalleled support for the refugees,” he said. Mr Mukherjee said at one time India and China contributed 60 per cent of world output. If the two countries were to go back to those days, this could not be achieved through rivalry or tension, he said. The only way out was a policy of co-existence. The minister said it was true India and China had differences over Arunachal Pradesh. When China issued a demarche on the issue, he had asserted that Arunachal Pradesh was an integral part of India. The Prime Minister, Dr Manmohan Singh, had announced during his Arunachal visit that a package would be unveiled for the state soon, Mr Mukherjee said. On Pakistan, he said India would resume its composite dialogue with it as soon as a new government was in place there. India expected Pakistan to stand by its word that its land would not be allowed to be used for terrorist activities against India. Mr Mukherjee said there was nothing new to report on the Indo-US nuclear deal which had been discussed in the House five times. The safeguards agreement with the International Atomic Energy Association (IAEA) was yet to be initialed, after which it would go to its Board. Thereafter, the scene would shift to the Nuclear Suppliers Group and the NSG would then amend its guidelines. After this all documents would go to US Congress for ratification. Only after that the issue of operationalisation of the deal would come up. Mr Mukherjee told the BJP members that their demand for a Joint Parliamentary Committee was not justified as no international agreement had been ever referred to a JPC. The minister said the UPA-Left Committee was an “internal arrangement” of the UPA government but he was ready to discuss the issue with the Opposition, if there was some development