Dharamsala, October 14 – The Tibetan Prime Minister Samdhong Rinpoche termed China’s objection to the Indian Prime Minister’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh as “absurd” and added that the visit to the northeastern Indian state by His Holiness the Dalai Lama next month will take place as scheduled.
“How can they dictate things to a sovereign country like India?” Outlook India quoted Rinpoche as saying. “Its not worth taking note of.”
His Holiness the Dalai Lama will give teachings in Tawang, Diang, Bungzla and Itanagar duirng his visit to Arunachal Pradesh from November 8 to 15, according to Tenzin Takla of the Tibetan leader’s private office.
The Tibetan Prime Minister also thanked the Indian government for giving a go ahead to the visit.
Meanwhile, India lashed out at China for protesting Prime Minister Manmohan Singh’s visit to the state to campaign for the state asssembly elections saying that the state is an integral part of the country and its prime minister has every right to visit it.
India has also asked China to stop its projects in Pakistan occupied Kashmir (PoK) in view of “long-term relations.” “Pakistan has been in illegal occupation of parts of the Indian state of Jammu & Kashmir since 1947. The Chinese side is fully aware of India’s position and our concerns about Chinese activities in Pakistan occupied Kashmir,” External Affairs Ministry spokesman Vishnu Prakash said.
Chinese president Hu Jintao met with the Pakistani Prime Minister Yousuf Gilani on Monday and outlined a major project to upgrade the Karakoram highway connecting the two countries overland and offered China’s help in the Neelam-Jhelum hydroelectric project in PoK.
