Straight talk: Prime minister to take up stapled visas with Wen Jiabao today

India wants to be “upfront” about the stapled visa’s issue when prime minister Manmohan Singh meets Chinese premier Wen Jiabao on Thursday.

Although China has started issuing stamped visas to Jammu and Kashmir residents instead of giving them stapled visas, India wants to seek assurance from Wen to sort out the problem once and for all.

India wants it to be made clear that both countries will give stamped visas only. Agency reports quoting senior government officials said China has indicated to “resolve all the difficult issues” during Wen’s visit. And if the Chinese premier’s initial remarks on Indian soil are of any indication then things can be expected to be positive.

“My current visit is aimed at promoting friendship, expanding cooperation, building on our past achievements and opening up new dimensions for mutual benefit and common development of the two countries,” Wen said upon his arrival in New Delhi on Wednesday.

India believes that in the absence of a formal discussion such irritants can crop up again, particularly when the bilateral relations are at a low. There is a feeling in some quarters that China recently issued stamped visa to a J&K sportsperson because the country was itself hosting the Asian Games.

A group of Tibetans staged a demonstration in the capital shouting anti-China slogans and waving Tibetan flags.

Meanwhile, Arunachal Pradesh Congress leader Kiren Rijiju has urged the prime minister to raise the issue of denial of visa by China to officials from the state.

India can “politely but firmly” tell China that while the talks on the boundary issue can go on and is likely to take a long time, officials from Arunachal Pradesh may be issued normal visas for a better bond between the two countries, the letter which was released to the media said.
—With agency inputs