Originally published by India Blooms News Service,28 Aug 2010

New Delhi, Aug 28 (IBNS) Reacting to the Chinese refusal to receive Lt. Gen. B.S.Jaswal, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) said the response of the Indian Government should have been more stringent and adequate.

“An abrasive attitude towards Indian sensitivities and helping India’s enemies has become a hall mark of China’s India policy while carrying on trade and commerce activities which are heavily in its favour,” said BJP national spokesperson Tarun Vijay.

“At a time when Kashmir is on a boil, supported and guided by Pakistan, China has shown its Pro-Pakistan attitude by refusing to welcome Lt. Gen Jaswal thus boosting the morale of anti-Indian separatists. The defence exchanges do serve a purpose under an appropriate atmosphere and such exchanges occur between the two institutions, in the present incident, between members of Indian Armed Forces and Peoples’ Liberation Army.

“…China has done exactly the opposite of what was expected of such visits. The response of Indian govt. to Chinese arrogance is sheepishly low key and inadequate to say the least,” Vijay said.

He further said the Congress-led UPA government must ask Beijing what will be its response if the issues of Tibet’s freedom and Xinxiang’s disputed merger with mainland land China, against which a strong movement is building up amongst the Uyghur people is opened by India.

“It’s not Lt. Gen. Jaswal who has been snubbed but the sovereignty of the Tricolour has been hurt. Of late under UPA dispensation the honour of Tricolour has been shrinking. Those who wear tricolor, the Indian citizens, are not only refused visa, if they are residents of Kashmir and Arunachal, but the protectors of the Tricolour, army commanders, too are embarrassed bringing down India’s prestige in global quarters,” he said.

“India must answer befittingly to the Chinese arrogance and make it feel the economic punch. Merely cancelling two low level delegations to China carry no conviction of the Indian govt to protect the honour of its citizens and the protectors of India’s sovereignty- the Forces,” Vijay added.

China had reportedly denied visa to Lt General B S Jaswal, General Officer Commanding in Chief, because he is posted in Jammu and Kashmir, which China calls a disputed territory.

His visa was denied when as part of a high-level exchange visit to China in August, Jaswal was nominated by the Indian defence ministry.