New Delhi, Apr 7 (UNI) India is fully capable of and will give full ''respect and protection'' to the Olympic Torch when it arrives here on April 17, Minister of State for External Affairs Anand Sharma said here today.
''The government of India is fully capable of providing security to it (the Olympic Torch)...It will be given full protection...It is our country's policy to protect the Torch and it will be allowed to pass through with full respect and security,'' the Minister told reporters on the sidelines of the Foreign Ministerial meeting ahead of the first India-Africa Forum Summit.
He denied that the government had received any proposal from the Chinese about providing their own security to the Olympic Torch so far.
However, sources said that even if such a proposal was received, it would not be accepted.
Asked about the incident in London where demonstrators tried to disrupt the Olympic Torch, the Minister declined comment saying ''I can't say what happened in other countries...but here it will be allowed to pass without any disturbance.'' UNI RB RR HT1930
''The government of India is fully capable of providing security to it (the Olympic Torch)...It will be given full protection...It is our country's policy to protect the Torch and it will be allowed to pass through with full respect and security,'' the Minister told reporters on the sidelines of the Foreign Ministerial meeting ahead of the first India-Africa Forum Summit.
He denied that the government had received any proposal from the Chinese about providing their own security to the Olympic Torch so far.
However, sources said that even if such a proposal was received, it would not be accepted.
Asked about the incident in London where demonstrators tried to disrupt the Olympic Torch, the Minister declined comment saying ''I can't say what happened in other countries...but here it will be allowed to pass without any disturbance.'' UNI RB RR HT1930
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