As far as atmospherics go, the Dalai Lama’s visit to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh had it all. The picture of one of the world’s most famous spiritual leaders standing just 40 km from the McMahon Line that divides India and Tibet, an exile from his homeland was poignant. But in an hard-hitting
speech, he minced no words about the territorial dispute between India and China over the state, saying there was no doubt that Arunachal Pradesh was an integral part of India. The visit will once again focus attention on India’s ‘Tibet card’.
That the Dalai Lama made the statements he did with the Centre looking the other way suggests that New Delhi was subtly signaling to China that there would be a bit more clarity on the issue from now on. We have always had the ‘Tibet card’ to buttress Beijing’s belligerence. But this card has not always been used to good effect with New Delhi accepting Tibetan ‘autonomy’ with no reciprocal measure from Beijing. China, on the other hand, has kept India off balance by raising the Arunachal issue whenever it feels it needs to store things up a bit.
Though the Dalai Lama’s visit and its attendant publicity will give India a fillip, the whole thing could have been managed to maximise our advantage. For a start, the international media should have been allowed to cover the visit. This was not done ostensibly to keep a lid on Tibetan dissidents and to mollify China. This is not to suggest that India adopts an aggressive stand vis-à-vis China. Rolling over is hardly the synonym for engagement. But, it is high time that India made clear the primacy of internal affairs, something China has not always respected. The point has now been made that India continues to provide sanctuary to the Dalai Lama. What New Delhi needs to do now is to shrug our shoulders ‘helplessly’ if Beijing complains about the Tibetan leader’s statements. And perhaps tell China with a soothing voice that it’s making much ado about nothing.