New Delhi: Indian pilgrims travelling to Kailash Mansarovar did not receive their visas from the Chinese government on Wednesday, August 7. Sources speaking to NDTV said that China has denied visas to a group of Indians who were about to embark on the famous Kailash Mansarovar Yatra. These developments emerged just hours after China publicly slammed India’s decision to classify Ladakh as a Union Territory.
Since the visas are generally distributed well in advance, the sudden delay is being seen as China’s snub to India’s decision concerning Ladakh.
In its official response, China expressed “serious concerns” over the Centre’s decision to revoke Article 370 and classify Jammu, Kashmir, and Ladakh as Union Territories. China had previously stressed that India and Pakistan must avoid undertaking any action that would threaten the status quo, especially in matters involving the Jammu and Kashmir region.
Insisting that India’s decision undermined China’s territorial sovereignty, China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson said, “China always opposes India’s inclusion of Chinese territory in the western section of the China-India boundary under its administrative jurisdiction. This position is firm and consistent and has never changed.”
India’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson was quick to dismiss the statement by saying that “India doesn’t comment on the internal affairs of other countries and similarly expects other countries to do likewise.”
The Kailash Mansarovar Yatra is a holy pilgrimage to a high-altitude lake that was believed to be the humble abode of Hindu deity Shiva. The routes to the holy site are open from June to September of every year and the pilgrimage is made possible by several institutions including the Indo Tibetan Border Police Force (ITBP), India’s External Affairs Ministry, and the Chinese government.
