BJP asks govt not to 'downplay' Chinese intrusion in Bhutan

Chandigarh, Dec 16 (UNI) The Bharatiya Janta Party (BJP) today described China's reported intrusion into Bhutan as ''an unfriendly act'' and asked the government not to ''downplay the matter''.

'' The government should come out on a statement on this vital issue as the intrusion affects India'', BJP president Rajnath Singh said while pointing out that his party had come to know of this ''unfriendly act'' and the deployment of a brigade of the 27 Mountain Division of the Indian army at Nathu La through the media.

'' The matter does not only concern China and Bhutan, but it also affects India because of the strategic location of Bhutan and the fact that we have always assisted in maintaining the sovereignty of the hill kingdom'', he said while addressing a media conference here.

Pointing to the developments that led to the Sino-India conflict in 1962, Mr Singh said the then Indian government had chosen to ignore ''the bullying tactics'' of China that ultimately led to a full scale conflict.

'' When India and China are involved in a dialogue over the border dispute, then such incidents cannot be simply overlooked or ignored'', he said while asking the government to issue a stern warning to China to desist from such ''unfriendly acts'' which could ''sour relations''.

UNI