Govt clears Dalai Lama’s proposed Arunachal visit

NEW DELHI: The Modi government has cleared Dalai Lama’s proposed visit to Arunachal Pradesh early next year in a move that might further rile China after Beijing had protested against the recent tour to the northeastern state by US envoy Richard Verma. The MEA on Monday dismissed Beijing’s objection to Verma’s October 21 visit to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh, asserting that the state is an integral part of India.

The government also cleared Tibet’s exiled leader the Dalai Lama’s proposed visit to Arunachal Pradesh in early 2017, sources in Tibetan government in exile indicated.

This move will raise eyebrows in Beijing. In 2009, China had protested against a similar plan by the Dalai Lama to visit Arunachal Pradesh.

The current Dalai Lama fled from China to India via Tawang in 1959.

One of the earlier Dalai Lamas was born in Tawang. China on Monday said that it was “firmly opposed” to Verma’s visit to Arunachal Pradesh, as it was a “disputed region between India and China”. The issue may be raised by China’s state councillor Yang Jiechi when he visits India soon. Jiechi is also the Chinese special representative for boundary talks with India.

India would raise with Yang the issue of China Pakistan Economic Corridor through PoK and reiterate its demand for Beijing’s support in the UN against Masood Azhar.

Interestingly, China recently acted on India’s request and arrested a Pakistani fake currency smuggler carrying fake Indian notes from Guangzhou. It was a result of trilateral cooperation between India-China-Sri Lanka.

The US ambassador to India visited Arunachal Pradesh to take part in the Tawang festival on October 21. He was invited by chief minister Pema Khandu. China does not recognise Arunachal Pradesh as a part of India and claims over 83,500 sq km of territory in the state as its own, particularly the Tawang tract.

“The US ambassador visited Arunachal Pradesh, a state which is an integral part of the country to which he is accredited. There is nothing unusual in it,” Vikas Swarup, official spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs, said.

His comment came after Beijing stated that “interference” by the US in the boundary dispute between India and China would “disturb the hardwon peace and tranquillity” in border areas and “stir up or heighten tensions”.

The US ambassador’s tour New Delhi’s permission to Dalai Lama’s proposed visit to Arunachal Pradesh put the spotlight once again on the long-pending territorial dispute between India and China.