'Modi went to Leh and China got scared'

'Modi warned China, therefore they have come to the talks.'
'Nothing will come out of these talks.'

Kishan Kapoor, th Bharatiya Janata Party member of the Lok Sabha from Kangra, has urged the government to confer the country's highest civilian award -- the Bharat Ratna -- on the Dalai Lama and has called for the freedom of Tibet from China.

The Dalai Lama, the spiritual head of the Tibetan people, settled down in McLeodganj in Himachal Pradesh, near Kangra, after he sought refuge in India in 1959 after the Chinese invasion of Tibet.

"If Tibet is free, India will be well protected," Kapoor tells Rediff.com's Syed Firdaus Ashraf.

Why do you want the Bharat Ratna to be conferred on the Dalai Lama?

I made the statement on the Dalai Lama's 85th birthday as that could be the best birthday gift to him.

China has done gross injustice to the Dalai Lama. They occupied his country.

It doesn't behove an elder brother to finish off the younger one. China should not have done this to Tibet.

Now, if they want to improve their image, let them free Tibet.

Moreover, from India's security perspective, it will be good.

We are holding peace talks with China to ease tensions at the LAC. Don't you think your statement will provoke the Chinese?

The Dalai Lama is a spiritual leader and not a politician, so what is wrong if I say something like this?

He has given the message of peace across the world. He is the ambassador of peace. This is my inner feeling and I am expressing it.

Then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee recognised Tibet as a part of China. So you are going against your party's stand.

I am only expressing my personal opinion on this issue. China has done (grave) injustice to Tibet.

And today, China has been exposed across the world. If they want to improve their image, let them give Tibet back to the Dalai Lama.

There was never a demand for the Bharat Ratna for the Dalai Lama, so why are you raising it now?

If not given earlier, we can give it now. There is no harm in it.

In 1962, China captured India's land and time and again they threatened India.

This time, Prime Minister Modi showed to the world that anyone who dares India will not be allowed to live in peace.

Conferring the Bharat Ratna on the Dalai Lama at this time can escalate tensions with China.

China has upset the whole world. It has spread coronavirus across the world. No country is happy with China.

They did this for their own selfish gains.

They made their economy strong and fooled other countries (during the pandemic).

Moreover, we have to look after our country's interests. If Tibet is free, India will be well protected.

Your statement may lead to the disruption of peace talks since you are a BJP MP.

Nothing will come out of these talks. China promises something and then does a volte face.

PM Modi warned China, therefore they have come to the talks. He went to Leh and China got scared.

• STAND-OFF IN LADAKH