Olympic torch will be safe here, India assures China

China, which has already expressed displeasure over the storming of its Embassy in New Delhi by Tibetan protestors, had handed over a list of likely Tibetan protests in India ahead of the Olympics to Ambassador Nirupama Rao last week. Beijing had also expressed concern about the safe passage of the Olympic torch in the country.

On Wednesday, National Security Adviser M K Narayanan told mediapersons that arrangements were being made for the security of the flame. “We will make all possible arrangements to ensure that the flame passes through India safely,” he said, responding to questions over Beijing’s concerns.

The Olympic torch is heading from Islamabad to New Delhi on April 17 and will stay in the country for two days before passing on to Bangkok. Beijing became more concerned about the safety of the flame after Friday’s incident in which Tibetan protestors scaled the walls of the Chinese embassy in Delhi and shouted slogans. As reported by this newspaper, Beijing summoned the Indian Ambassador twice last Friday — first to express concern about the Dalai Lama meeting the Vice-President and again to register a formal protest against the breach of security at its Embassy.