India on Friday trashed China’s fresh warning against hosting the Dalai lama in Arunachal Pradesh and decided to go ahead with the proposed visit of the Tibetan spiritual leader to the world-famous Tawang Monastery. The Indian Government has made it clear to Beijing that the Tibetan spiritual leader is a guest of India and has the freedom to travel across the country.
India also maintained that Arunachal Pradesh is part of India, and there is no reason for China to show anxiety over his travel plans to the State.
“Our position in the matter is consistent and well known,” said sources. The Government maintains that the Dalai lama has visited Arunachal in the past as well and there is nothing unusual if he visits it again. The Dalai lama will be visiting Tawang Monastery, one of the biggest in Asia, from April 4 to 13 on the invitation of State Chief Minister Pema Khandu.
“He is going there as a religious leader, there is no reason to stop him. His devotees are demanding he should come, what harm can he doIJ He is a lama,” Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju said while reacting to a statement by the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson. Rijiju hails from Arunachal and is expected to join the Dalai lama during his trip to the State.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang on Friday warned India against allowing the Dalai to visit Arunachal, saying it would cause “serious damage” to the bilateral ties and peace in the disputed border region.
“China is gravely concerned over information that India has granted permission to the Dalai to visit Arunachal Pradesh. China is strongly opposed to the Dalai visiting disputed areas. China’s position on the eastern section of China-India border dispute is consistent and clear. The Dalai clique has long been engaging in anti-China separatist activities and its record on the border question is not that good,” Shuang said.
China claims Arunachal Pradesh as part of Tibet and routinely objects to any visits by top leaders, officials and diplomats to the area. China had also aired similar concerns in October last year when India granted permission to the Tibetan spiritual leader to visit Arunachal Pradesh at the invitation of the State Government. China had also objected when then United States Ambassador to India Richard Verma attended the Tawang Festival in October last year.
“India is fully aware of the seriousness of the Dalai issue and the sensitivity of the China-India border question. Under such a background if India invites the Dalai to visit the mentioned territory, it will cause serious damage to peace and stability of the border region and China-India relations. We have expressed concerns to the Indian side, urged India to stick to its political commitments and abide by important consensus the two sides have reached on the boundary question, refrain from actions that might complicate the issue, not provide a platform to the Dalai clique and protect the sound and stable development of the Sino-India relations,” Shuang said.
Shuang’s comments came against the backdrop of an interview to the Chinese media by former Chinese Special Representative on the boundary dispute Dai Bingguo in which he said the border dispute between the two nations can be resolved if India gives up claim over Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh.