By: Pallab Ghosh
Radiance News Service

Indian diplomats boycott the Winter Olympics 2022 in China

Indian diplomats will not attend the opening and closing ceremony of the inter Olympics beginning Friday in Beijing. However, India will send an athlete for the event. The announcement was made after China made PLA soldier the torchbearer at the games. Earlier, India had announced it would boycott the games after it adopted the BRICS joint statement in September last year.

This comes as a protest against the 2020 Galwan clashes that had killed 20 Indian soldiers, including a Colonel. China later admitted to losing four of its troops. The Galwan encounter is regarded as the bloodiest attack between India and China. 

Replying to questions on Galwan attack, and what would be India's stand on the Winter Olympics, the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) official spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said: “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.”

The chief of public broadcaster Prasar Bharti, CEO Shashi Shekhar Vempati, announced that it will not telecast live the Opening and Closing ceremonies of the Winter Olympics being held in Beijing.

Back home the public has welcomed the gesture. Social media has been abuzz with messages and posts complimenting the government for showing respect to the dead soldiers.