Yatra off till troops are withdrawn, warns China

China on Tuesday lodged protests in Beijing and New Delhi against Indian soldiers’ “trespassing” into its territory and indicated the Mansarovar Yatra would remain suspended till India “withdrew” its troops.

The ministry of foreign affairs made it clear it would leverage the annual Kailash Mansarovar Yatra, a major confidence-building measure between the two often-bickering neighbours, in the standoff along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in Sikkim.

“As to the Indian pilgrims’ journey through Nathu La pass in the Sikkim section, I think the Indian side is very clear about it. For a long time, the Chinese government has made enormous efforts to provide necessary convenience for those Indian pilgrims. But recently, the Indian border personnel trespassed the Chinese border to obstruct construction so we have taken necessary actions,” ministry spokesperson Lu Kang said on Tuesday.

China had put the pilgrimage on hold out of security concerns, he said.

“So for the upcoming actions we have to depend on what the Indian side will do. They have to take actions to improve the security situation,” Lu said, spelling out the bargain.

A few days ago, China didn’t allow a batch of Indians to go through the Nathu La pass on way to Mount Kailash, held sacred by the Buddhists, Hindus and Jains.

They were to cross over on June 19 but failed to do so due to inclement weather and had to wait at the base camp. Four days later, China denied entry to them citing damage to roads.

Earlier in a statement, the ministry accused the Indian military of incursion into its territory along the LAC and obstructing its personnel from carrying out routine work.

It also said because of the trouble in the area, Beijing suspended the 21-day pilgrimage through Nathu La.

CHINA MADE IT CLEAR IT WOULD LEVERAGE THE ANNUAL KAILASH MANSAROVAR YATRA IN THE STANDOFF ALONG THE LAC IN SIKKIM