Dalai visit: India asks China not to interfere in internal affairs

New Delhi: Amid a row over the Dalai Lama’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh, India today asked China not to interfere in its internal affairs, saying it respects the “One-China” policy and expects Beijing to reciprocate.

Making a statement on the visit of the Dalai Lama to Arunachal Pradesh, Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju said here that the Tibetan spiritual leader’s visit to the border state is completely religious and no political motive should be ascribed to it.

“There is no political angle behind His Holiness’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh. It is completely religious. Arunachal Pradesh is an inseparable part of India and China should not object to his visit and interfere in India’s internal affairs,” he told reporters here.

Rijiju said India has never interfered in China’s internal affairs and it expect China to reciprocate.

“We respect Beijing’s ‘One-China’ policy and we expect China to reciprocate,” he said. The Dalai Lama is scheduled to visit Arunachal Pradesh today during which he will hold religious discourse with devotees in Tawang, Bomdial and other areas.

No ‘artificial controversy’ should be created 

India also asserted that no “artificial controversy” should be created around the Tibetan spiritual leader’s visit.

External Affairs Ministry said that the government has clearly stated on several occasions that the Dalai Lama is a revered religious leader, who is deeply respected by the Indian people.

“No additional colour should be ascribed to his religious and spiritual activities and visits to various states of India,” the Ministry said in a release.

The government, therefore, urges that no “artificial controversy” should be created around his present visit to Arunachal Pradesh, it said. A wary China has kept a close watch ahead of the Dalai Lama’s visit, starting today.

Earlier, the Chinese Foreign Ministry had warned India that the visit of theDalaiLamato Arunachal Pradesh, which Beijing claims as part of Tibet, will cause “serious damage” to bilateral ties.