By Tenzin Monlam
DHARAMSHALA, October 31: The two major political parties – the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and Congress – have snubbed China’s warning of ‘damaging ties’ and expressed support for His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh.
“We all believe that the Dalai Lama is a guest in India and that he can travel freely, independently to any portion that is within the territorial jurisdiction of India. Arunachal is an integral part of India,” Congress leader Randeep Surjewala told ANI.
Meanwhile, Nalin Kohli, the spokesperson for the ruling BJP rubbished the comments from Beijing saying, “These kinds of comments are uncalled for and they do not help in bilateral relations in any way.”
Spokesperson of the Indian External Affairs Ministry Vikas Swarup affirmed that the exiled Tibetan spiritual leader is free to travel anywhere in India. “The Dalai Lama is a revered spiritual figure. He has a sizeable following among Buddhists in Arunachal Pradesh, who would like to seek his blessings. He has visited the state in the past as well and we see nothing unusual if he visits again,” Swarup said.
China’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lu Kang on Friday stated that visit of Tibetan spiritual leader to the border state may damage the ‘peace and stability’ of the region.
The 81-year old Nobel Peace laureate is scheduled to visit the state in March next year after accepting the invitation from Arunachal’s Chief Minister Pema Khandu and his administration on October 10.
China has constantly objected to the Tibetan leader’s visit to the border state, which also is the entry point into India during his flight in 1959. His Holiness’s visit in 2009 was also objected by Beijing. However, New Delhi has always maintained that the exiled Tibetan leader is ‘free to travel anywhere’ in the country and the objections were ‘unwarranted’.
