India should be careful in dealing with China: Dolma

Guwahati, March 26 (IANS) Home minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile, Gyari Dolma Monday warned the Indian government to be very careful while dealing with China.

"The Chinese deceive. So we want India to be careful while dealing with China. The people of Tibet have suffered a lot," Dolma said and urged for persistent help and support from the people of India's northeast, which is adjacent to south Tibet.

"While the Communist regime in Beijing speaks about Tibet, they definitely mean Arunachal Pradesh too. So, it is in the interest of every Indian to support genuine autonomy in Tibet. And I believe that the people of northeast India can take a pivotal role in raising voices for us," said Dolma.

Dolma also detailed about China's plan to divert the Brahmaputa river at its source in Tibet and said that major rivers of India, particularly those in northeastern parts, would suffer very badly.

She also pointed out that the president of the People's Republic of China (Hu Jintao) is a hydrology expert and is the man behind China's plan to construct a number of dams on the Brahmaputra inside Tibet.

"Not only dams, the Chinese government is planning to divert water from the mighty river to the northern part of Tibet to support their agricultural needs. If completed, the project would have severe negative impact on the environment and ecology of India and also Bangladesh, besides million of people in the two countries," Dolma added.

Terming Hu Jintao as a 'monster', Dolma said the Chinese president might face some opposition from various Tibetan support groups on his scheduled visit to New Delhi later this month.

Dolma was in Guwahati to kick-start a campaign for the Tibetan cause in northeast India. She also took part in a seminar on the theme, "Tibet and the Himalayan Environment & Ecology".