AFP image
New Delhi:
The Dalai Lama's planned visit to Arunachal Pradesh in November has triggered a controversy with China on Friday objecting to it but India asserted that no restrictions would be put on the travel of the Tibetan spiritual leader.
The Dalai Lama intends to travel to Arunachal in the middle of November, which the Tibetan government-in-exile says has nothing to do with politics.
The Dalai Lama is undertaking the visit apparently to deliver speeches there.
China expressed "strong concern" over the proposed visit, saying it "further reveals the Dalai clique's anti-China and separatist essence".
"We firmly oppose Dalai visiting the so-called 'Arunachal Pradesh'," Jiang Yu, the spokeswoman for China's foreign ministry, told Reuters.
India, which maintains that China has no say on affairs related to Arunachal Pradesh, felt the Chinese objections are unwarranted as the Tibetan leader is free to travel anywhere in the country.
"There are no restrictions on travel of the Dalai Lama in India," official sources said when asked to comment on Chinese opposition to his visit.
China lays claim to entire Arunachal Pradesh and had objected when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh undertook a visit to the state three years back and President Pratibha Patil earlier this year.
The Dalai Lama intends to travel to Arunachal in the middle of November, which the Tibetan government-in-exile says has nothing to do with politics.
The Dalai Lama is undertaking the visit apparently to deliver speeches there.
China expressed "strong concern" over the proposed visit, saying it "further reveals the Dalai clique's anti-China and separatist essence".
"We firmly oppose Dalai visiting the so-called 'Arunachal Pradesh'," Jiang Yu, the spokeswoman for China's foreign ministry, told Reuters.
India, which maintains that China has no say on affairs related to Arunachal Pradesh, felt the Chinese objections are unwarranted as the Tibetan leader is free to travel anywhere in the country.
"There are no restrictions on travel of the Dalai Lama in India," official sources said when asked to comment on Chinese opposition to his visit.
China lays claim to entire Arunachal Pradesh and had objected when Prime Minister Manmohan Singh undertook a visit to the state three years back and President Pratibha Patil earlier this year.
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