China has reportedly denied visas to Indian pilgrims of Kailash Mansarovar Yatra on Wednesday, 7 August, NDTV reported quoting sources. Usually the pilgrims are given visas at least a day prior to the commencement of the yatra. However, as per The Hindu, citing a procedural delay as the reason, sources said that the two different batches of pilgrims who had to leave on Wednesday, did not receive their visas.
After the Modi-led government moved for the revocation of Article 370 on Monday, 5 August, as well as the division of Jammu and Kashmir into two Union Territories, China on Tuesday expressed “serious concerns” over the issue.
China had asked India and Pakistan to exercise restraint, and that they should avoid actions that "unilaterally" change the status quo and exacerbate tensions between them, PTI reported.
Asserting that China's position on Kashmir was “clear and consistent,” China’s Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying said, “Recently, India has continued to undermine China’s territorial sovereignty by unilaterally changing its domestic law.”
In response to the Chinese Spokesperson, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) said, “India doesn't comment on internal affairs of other countries and similarly expects other countries to do likewise,” ANI reported.
The MEA further said, “So far as India-China Boundary Question is concerned, the two sides have agreed to a fair, reasonable and mutually acceptable settlement of boundary question on the basis of Political Parameters & Guiding Principles for Settlement of India-China Boundary Question.”
About Kailash Sarovar Yatra
The Yatra is organised by the Ministry of External affairs via both routes, the Lipulekh Pass and Nathu La Pass. This Yatra is organised with the support of the state governments of Uttarakhand, Delhi, and Sikkim; and the cooperation of Indo Tibetan Border Police (ITBP) and the Chinese government.
Thousands of people embark on the ‘Kailash Mansarovar Yatra’ between June-September every year. Mansarovar, a lake at an altitude of 14, 950 ft and with a circumference of 88 km, is considered pious across faiths.
Read more about the Kailash Mansarovar Yatra here.
(At The Quint, we are answerable only to our audience. Play an active role in shaping our journalism by becoming a member. Because the truth is worth it.)