New Delhi: The Indian government has announced that it will be enforcing a diplomatic boycott of the Beijing Winter Olympics next month in response to China putting a soldier involved in the Galwan incident of 2020 as the torchbearer for the Games.
"It is indeed regrettable that the Chinese side has chosen to politicize an event like the Olympics… the Charge d'Affaires of the Embassy of India in Beijing will not be attending the opening or the closing ceremony of the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics," said External Affairs spokesperson Arindam Bagchi on Thursday.
In addition to this, Doordarshan will not broadcast the opening or closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics. Indian athletes will still take part.
The clashes in Galwan, Ladakh last year killed 20 Indian troops and 4 Chinese troops (according to official Chinese government figures). However, a report published in the Klaxon newspaper from Australia cites social media researchers who claim the Chinese count may have been as high as 42, with as many as 38 having drowned attempting to flee the fighting.
The border standoff in eastern Ladakh erupted on May 5, 2020, following a violent clash in the Pangong lake area and both sides gradually enhanced their deployment by rushing in tens of thousands of soldiers as well as heavy weaponry. The Galwan clash took place on June 15.
Asked about complaints of torture of the Arunachal boy by the Chinese Army who was recently returned after being in PLA's captivity, the MEA spokesperson said that the issue "has been taken up with the Chinese side". He added that the case "was handled through military channels and I would refer it to the Ministry of Defence and other elements."
A day after Miram Taron (17), who was purportedly abducted by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) on January 18, was reunited with his family at Zido village, his father Opang Taron had said, "My son was kicked several times by Chinese soldiers. They also gave electric shock to him twice."
India's reasons for a diplomatic boycott are markedly different from the likes of the USA and Australia, who have announced diplomatic boycotts of their own over perceived human rights violations related to the Chinese government's treatment of the Uighur minority Muslim community in China.