RSS unhappy over Tibet

RSS is unhappy with the outcome of Atal's China visit, particularly with what it sees as a major change in India's stand on Tibet.

The RSS leadership is now unhappy with the outcome of Prime Minister A.B. Vajpayee's visit to China, particularly with what it sees as a major change in New Delhi's position on Tibet, which has now been described as "part of China."

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RSS leaders, including its chief K.S. Sudarshan, will discuss the impact of Vajpayee's China trip at a key conclave of the organisation's national executive at Kanyakumari on July 5 and 6. BJP general secretary Sanjoy Joshi will represent the party.

The RSS and VHP have already been critical of the Prime Minister's fresh efforts to improve ties with Pakistan. The RSS, like the Opposition parties, does not agree with the official spin that Vajpayee's visit to China was a breakthrough. It believes that India gave in too easily on Tibet, without extracting any concession from Beijing either on Sikkim or the border problem.

Sangh leaders say New Delhi is open to the charge that its stand on Tibet is inconsistent. RSS spokesperson Ram Madhav confirmed that the Tibet issue would figure at the Sangh's conclave. He refused to elaborate, saying that the RSS national executive would come out with a resolution. "Though the Prime Minister's visit could have a spin-off on trade and economy, we have some reservations on the government's stand on Tibet," he said.

The main bone of contention appears to be the "dilution" of India's previously held position that Tibet is an autonomous region of China. Many RSS leaders say the government's new line will have a bearing on its own efforts to build up a trans-Himalayan movement.

RSS leaders have been interacting with Tibetan groups in India that still feel strongly about their homeland.

The RSS is against India sending troops to Iraq to replace American and British soldiers, who have become soft targets for a new wave of guerrilla warfare. The RSS chief had vehemently opposed the US-led war on Iraq to overthrow the Saddam Hussein regime.