Disapproving of violent protests against the Beijing Olympics torch relay, Lok Sabha Speaker Somnath Chatterjee on Friday expressed confidence that the event would pass off peacefully in India.
He said this to Chinese Ambassador to India Zhang Yan, who met him, and referred to the obstacles created by violent means to the ongoing relay in a few countries.
"If anybody has any different view on any issue, there are other ways of expressing that. They should not take law into their hands," Chatterjee told Zhang.
He expressed confidence that the torch relay would pass off peacefully in India, a statement issued by his office said.
Reiterating India's stand that Tibet is an integral part of China, he said, "India's position is very clear regarding its friendship with China and its people...we want the Olympics to succeed."
Chatterjee told Zhang that India too was trying to host the Olympics in 2020.
When developments in Tibet were referred to, the Speaker said, "We want people to live peacefully and harmoniously everywhere".
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