Dalai Lama surprised over Chinese claims on Tawang

Arriving in this border town to a rousing reception on a visit resented by China, the Dalai Lama today rebuffed it for objecting to his trip to Arunachal Pradesh and expressed surprise over its claims to Tawang, a revered seat of Buddhism.

The 74-year-old Tibetan spiritual leader, who is visiting this remote north-eastern state after a gap of six years drawing international attention in the wake of Chinese protests, also rejected Beijing's charge he was encouraging a separatist movement calling it baseless. The Nobel Laureate characterised his "emotional" visit to Tawang, which has strong ties to Tibet, as non-political.

"It is totally baseless on the part of the Chinese Communist Government to say that I am encouraging a separatist movement. My visit to Tawang is non-political and aimed at promoting universal brotherhood and nothing else," he said.
indianachu : 03