Live: China Wrong to Slam Delhi Over Dalai Lama, Says Arunachal CM

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama arrived at Bomdila in West Kameng district on Tuesday evening.

Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama at Bomdila in West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh on Tuesday. (Photo: PTI)

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• The Dalai Lama arrived in Bomdila late on 4 April for a nine-day visit to Arunachal Pradesh
• China lodged a protest with India’s ambassador over the Dalai Lama’s visit to the state
• Earlier, Beijing said the visit has ‘seriously damaged ties with India’

• The Dalai Lama is scheduled to address a gathering at Dirang Monastery on 6 April

Updated at:5th Apr, 2017 at 4:54 PM

Beijing Has No Right to Threaten Delhi on Dalai Lama's Movement: Arunachal CM

Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu on Wednesday said China has "no right to threaten" India over Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama's movements in Arunachal Pradesh, which, he said, shares a border with "Tibet and not China".

Beijing has no right to threaten Delhi on the Dalai Lama’s movement within the country as India shares boundary with Tibet and not China. China has no business telling us what to do and what not to do because it is not our next-door neighbour.

Pema Khandu to IANS

Updated at:6th Apr, 2017 at 4:37 AM

China Lodges Protest with India's Ambassador in Beijing

China said today it has lodged a diplomatic protest with India for allowing the Dalai Lama to visit the "disputed" parts of Arunachal Pradesh.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry said it has lodged the protest with India's Ambassador in Beijing, Vijay Gokhale.

Updated at:5th Apr, 2017 at 4:48 PM

Dalai Lama's Visit Seriously Damaged Ties with India: China

China said on Wednesday that it plans to lodge a diplomatic protest with India for "obstinately" allowing the Dalai Lama to visit "disputed" Arunachal Pradesh, causing "serious damage" to bilateral ties

Speaking to reporters, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said:

India, in disregard to China’s concerns, obstinately arranged the Dalai Lama’s visit to the disputed part of the eastern part of the China-India border causing serious damage to China’s interests and China-India relations.

China firmly opposes this move and will make representations to the Indian side, she added.

Updated at:5th Apr, 2017 at 2:18 PM

We Don't Want Independence but 'Meaningful Self-Rule': Dalai Lama

Updated at:5th Apr, 2017 at 2:18 PM

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'Have an Emotional Connect With Arunachal Pradesh'

The Dalai Lama spoke fondly of Arunachal Pradesh and said he had a special connection with the state, as it had served as his point of entry when he escaped to India from Tibet in 1959.

When I got freedom, when I first reached India, I entered through the state of Arunachal Pradesh. I have an emotional connect with the state. It is a special place for me. 

He thanked the Indian government for allowing him to live in India.

I would like to thank the government of India. I have been here since 1959. India has taken great care of me. I am their longest staying guest. I am thankful to them. 

The Dalai Lama. (Photo: PTI)

Updated at:5th Apr, 2017 at 4:12 PM

'India Not Using Me Against China'

The Dalai Lama on Wednesday rubbished claims made by Chinese official media that he was being used by the Narendra Modi government as “diplomatic leverage” to challenge China.

India has never used me against China.

A report in The Global Times had said that India is using the Dalai Lama as a diplomatic tool to counter China.

Updated at:5th Apr, 2017 at 2:24 PM

Dalai Lama's Session Underway in Bomdila

The Dalai Lama gave a discourse at Buddha Park in Bomdila after he arrived at the state’s West Kameng district on Tuesday evening.

Accompanied by Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu, the spiritual leader arrived by road as his chopper could not take off from Guwahati due to inclement weather.

This marks the start of the Dalai Lama’s nine-day visit to Arunachal Pradesh. On 6 April, he will impart teachings at Dirang and confer the 'Avalokiteshvara Permission' at Thupsung Dhargyeling Monastery in the morning.

From 8 April to 10 April, the Dalai Lama will deliver discourses in disputed Tawang.

Updated at:5th Apr, 2017 at 2:06 PM

'India Is Using Dalai Lama's Visit to Upset China'

Late President Dr APJ Abdul Kalam with His Holiness the Dalai Lama. (Photo: PTI)

India is using the Dalai Lama's visit to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh to upset China and New Delhi should deliver on its political commitments to Beijing on Tibet-related issues, state-run Chinese media said.

The 14th Dalai Lama's visit to Tawang bordering China will hurt Sino-Indian ties because China opposes any official invitations to him, the Global Times quoted an unnamed Chinese analyst as saying.

The Dalai’s visit to the controversial area, especially Tawang, which China hopes will be returned, will affect relations between China and India. India (is) using Dalai Lama’s visit to upset Beijing.

An analyst from the Institute of Asia-Pacific Studies of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences told <i>Global Times</i>

Reacting to Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju's remarks that the Dalai Lama's visit is "purely religious," and that there is no political angle behind it, the expert said this is not the first time India has used the Dalai Lama to express its displeasure to China, especially when bilateral talks fail to include their demands or to "pander to domestic anti-China issues".

Updated at:5th Apr, 2017 at 12:05 PM

'No Artificial Controversy'

Image is used for representational purposes. (Photo: Reuters)

Amid persistent Chinese objections to the Dalai Lama's trip to Arunachal Pradesh, India said no "artificial controversy" should be created around the Tibetan spiritual leader's visit.

The Dalai Lama's visit to the state comes eight years after his previous visit in 2009 which was exactly 50 years after he had passed through the town on his way from Lhasa in Tibet to India.

Also Read: China Should Stay Out of Our Matters: Rijiju Over Dalai Lama Visit

(With inputs from PTI)

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Updated at:5th Apr, 2017 at 12:05 PM