External Affairs Minister S.M. Krishna on Wednesday dismissed China’s objections to the Dalai Lama’s proposed visit to Arunachal Pradesh later this year, and said the Tibetan leader was free to go anywhere in India.
“Arunachal Pradesh is a part of India and the Dalai Lama is free to go anywhere in India,” Mr. Krishna told IBN7 news channel here.
“The only question is that he is not expected to comment on political developments,” the Minister said.
The Dalai Lama has sought the Indian government’s permission to visit Tawang, a monastery town in Arunachal Pradesh, which is claimed by China. He plans to go there in November to inaugurate a hospital for which he had donated Rs. 20 lakh.
China has voiced “strong concern” over the proposed visit, saying it “further reveals the Dalai clique’s anti-China and separatist essence.”
“We firmly oppose Dalai visiting the so-called Arunachal Pradesh,” said Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu.
