Sir — This refers to the article, “The Chinese and their bogus tall assertions” (April 6) by Claude Arpi. It looks, China is like the proverbial cat on the hot tin roof as far as the Dalai lama’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh is concerned. The furore raised by it over the lama’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh is unwarranted and amounts to meddling in the internal affairs of India.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry’s veiled threat that the visit will cause “serious damage” to India-China ties, is an attempt to put pressure on India. The Dalai lama is an honoured guest in India and his presence enriches the social, cultural, civilisational, and spiritual ethos of the country.
China’s baiting of the lama, whom it calls a “dangerous separatist”, does not befit its global stature. It was good that Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju, who hails from Arunachal Pradesh, clarified India’s position on the visit. He further said that there was no “political angle” to the visit and that it was completely religious in nature.