New Delhi: A diplomat from India has chosen to boycott the opening and closing ceremony of Winter Olympics to be held in Beijing, China.
As torchbearer, China has chosen a soldier who battled it out in Ladakh’s Galwan Valley against Indian troops in 2020. China’s decision to single out a soldier from Galwan, where 20 Indian soldiers died, at the Olympic Games is considered provocative by many, reported NDTV.
The foreign ministry on Thursday called it “regrettable” while making the announcement of the the diplomat’s decision.
“We have seen the reports on this issue. It is indeed regrettable that the Chinese side has chosen to politicise an event like the Olympics,” the foreign ministry was quoted as saying by NDTV.
“I wish to inform that our Charge d’Affaires of the Embassy of India in Beijing will not be attending the opening or the closing ceremony of the Beijing ’22 Winter Olympics,” added the ministry.
Regrettable that China has chosen to politicise the Olympics. The Indian envoy will not attend the opening or closing ceremony of the Beijing Winter Olympics: MEA on reports of China making Galwan soldier torchbearer pic.twitter.com/AdtDVk3aSv
— ANI (@ANI) February 3, 2022