Rubbishing China's concerns over visit of the Dalai Lama to Tawang region of Arunachal Pradesh, which the neighbouring country calls disputed, India said no political meaning should be assigned to his visit.
“We have no say on his travels in India. No political meaning should be assigned to the visit,” Gopal Baglay, ministry of external affairs spokesperson said.
India's position on the Dalai Lama has been consistent. He was a revered religious figure who was treated as such by the government and the people of India, said Baglay trying to distance New Delhi from Tibet leader's upcoming visit in April.
China had expressed its concerns and even warned that the Dalai Lama's visit to Arunachal Pradesh’s Tawang monastery in April could “seriously damage” bilateral ties.
“The invitation to the Dalai Lama by the Indian side to the contested area between China and India will inflict severe damage on the China-India relationship and peace and stability in the China-India border area,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang had said last week.
The view in the Indian political establishment was that India should act aggressively when it comes to dealing with China. The issue of Tibet has been one such, that make the neighbouring country understand New Delhi's concerns. China has been playing footsie with Pakistan over issue of terrorism and particularly Hafiz Saeed who India wants to get on the UN terror list.
The Dalai Lama's visit will be between April 4 to 13 and Union Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju will meet him there.
The visit is likely to put pressure on New Delhi - Beijing relationship, as it is a high profile visit which will be closely watched. It will also help assert India's resolve that Arunachal Pradesh was country's integral part and China should stay away from it.
In October last year, the then US Ambassador, Richard Verma, had visited Tawang to attend a festival. In January this year Richard hosted Kiren Rijiju and Prime Minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile Lobsang Sangay at US embassy in Delhi.
The Dalai Lama had even met President Pranab Mukherjee at Rashtrapati Bhavan during a children's summit in December last.
China had strongly objected to these moves saying any interference by Washington in the Sino-India boundary dispute will make it complicated.
But New Delhi seems pushing ahead with the visit in order to send a strong message to Beijing.
