China has invited Prime Minister of India Manmohan Singh as well as other leaders to attend the Olympics in August. However, sources said that it was likely that sports minister M S Gill would represent India at the games. The invitation was conveyed to the Indian delegation during foreign minister Pranab Mukherjee’s recent visit to China.

The games have been a source of much heartburn between China & India since March as Tibetans protested in the country against the Chinese government’s Tibet policies, particularly the violent unrest in Lhasa & the subsequent Chinese crackdown. China has objected to the Dalai Lama running tame in India & seemed to hold India responsible for all his & his followers activities.

Then, the Olympic torch relay in New Delhi, which was escorted through a meager 3km route on Rajpath by about 15,000 securitymen, showed a face of China that was completely contrary to the spirit of the Games. It prompted many parallel relays by activists protesting Chinese action in Tibet. Consequently, there was speculation about when — if at all — China would invite India to the opening ceremony.