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China launching propaganda war using NE ultras

By R Dutta Choudhury

GUWAHATI, April 6 - The Government of India has accused China of launching a propaganda war by using the militant groups of the Northeast and is planning to take up the matter with the government of the neighbouring country soon. The Centre also believes that the statement issued by the United Liberation Front of Asom (Independent) on the visit of the Dalai Lama to the Northeast was also issued at the behest of China as it contained certain major issues in the interest of that country.

Highly placed sources in the Government of India told The Assam Tribune that there have been circumstantial evidence of China using the militant groups of the Northeast to launch propaganda war against India and the recent statement of the ULFA(I) was a clear indication in this regard. However, sources said that the security agencies are not apprehending any major threat to the Tibetan spiritual leader during his visit to the region and the normal security drill is followed to provide adequate security cover to him.

Sources said the Government of India is �not much worried� about China�s opposition to the Dalai Lama�s visit to Arunachal Pradesh as in the past also, the neighbouring country had opposed such visits. In fact, China had even opposed the visits of Prime Minister and Defence Minister to Tawang. But the more worrying factor is the use of the Northeast militants in the propaganda war, sources added.

Pointing out that in its recent statement on the visit of the Dalai Lama, the ULFA(I) spoke more about China than about Assam and called upon the Tibetan spiritual leader not to utter anything against China as �it might affect the relation between China and Assam.� In the statement, the ULFA(I) also voiced its opposition to the McMahon Line, which clearly indicated that the statement was given in favour of China, sources added. The statement went on to say that the McMahon Line was drawn deceitfully without the knowledge of the Chinese representative in 1914 to include the North East Frontier Agency (NEFA) in India.

Criticising the Dalai Lama for commenting that Tawang is a part of India, the ULFA(I) stated, �Your Holiness�s unwise plan to go to Tawang despite China objecting to your visit is a great concern to us. Because the situation can escalate and China�s restraint not to have a military confrontation with India might be overridden by necessity and a war might become inevitable. This time China is not fighting a rag-tag Indian military of 1962. India has kept her nuclear arsenal ready on Assam�s soil to use against your country. In neutralising Indian military power China is also likely to unleash an immense counteroffensive which will be a disaster for Assam. Moreover, your beloved Tibet is also likely to suffer heavily from your host�s action. Hence, if I may suggest, if your Holiness indeed decides to come to Assam, it is possible to turn it to an opportunity of an ambassador of peace and something meaningful to your legacy. However, the caveat we would like you to honour upon making the trip that nothing against China will be uttered by you in private or public; because China has always been a friendly neighbour of ours and the relationship between China and Assam is truly very deep in linguistic and cultural heritage of the two nations. We won�t tolerate India�s view to be propagated from Assam�s soil.�

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