Thaindian News

New Delhi, Apr 11 (ANI): Chinese tourists visiting India have criticized the protests by exiled Tibetans in the run up to the Olympic Games in Beijing.

“People have the right to see what they want. The Olympics is a peaceful sport event. So, I don’t agree with people resorting to violence ahead of the Olympics,” said Island Chen, a Chinese tourist.

Security has been beefed up in New Delhi ahead of the Olympic torch rally, which will pass through the city on April 17.

The passage of the torch relay is a potential magnet for anti-Chinese protests by Tibetan exiles and their supporters who have staged demonstrations in New Delhi and seat of Tibetan Government-in-exile, Dharamsala.

Meanwhile, Indians awaiting the arrival of the Olympic torch feel that security is of prime importance for the peaceful relay.

An Indian on being asked whether the high security would be an impediment during the relay admitted that the security was important.

“Yes it would be so, but security is more important. People would be able to see the torch through the media also, but security is crucial. It would be good for India if the torch relay is successfully completed,” said K.L. Gupta.

The Tibetans protests started on March 10, marking their uprising day spilled out of Tibet and parts of China to other parts of the globe.

China has accused the Dalai Lama of orchestrating a rash of monk-led protests and rioting — the most serious in the Himalayan region for nearly two decades — in a bid to wreck the August 8-24 Beijing Olympic Games.

India, which hosts the Dalai Lama and his government-in-exile, has seen a wave of protests since the Chinese crackdown on anti-government demonstrations in Tibet last month.

The continuing protests ahead of the Beijing Olympics have been worrying China and it has conveyed to New Delhi its concern over the safety of the Olympics torch during its relay in India particularly after Tibetan protesters stormed the Chinese embassy in the Indian capital last month. (ANI)