Beijing’s neurosis on Tibet, laid bare by its contemptuous dismissal of the worldwide calls to reopen the talks with the exiled Tibetan leadership, has set the stage for widespread protests against the Olympic torch relay that will travel across the continents. It is the duty of all governments to ensure absolute safety for the torch relay on their soil. It is equally the responsibility of democratic governments to allow peaceful protests on any issue. We hope Home Minister Shivraj Patil has left Beijing in no doubt about how India views its dual responsibilities. Any appeasement of Beijing by New Delhi, or even the political perception of it, will not only generate a new controversy about the nation’s foreign policy but also undermine the very foundation of Sino-Indian relations: equality and mutual respect.