India should protest China's advice on Dalai Lama: BJP

NEW DELHI: BJP today expressed its ire at China's advice to West Bengal government not to welcome the Dalai Lama, saying this was an "intervention" in India's affairs and suggested a protest be lodged with the Chinese Ambassador.

BJP spokesperson and MP Tarun Vijay maintained that China's advice to West Bengal government not to welcome and not to attend the Dalai Lama's programme was "unacceptable".

"We condemn it as a direct intervention in our national affairs. Government of India should call the Chinese Ambassador to lodge its protest," he said, noting that a minister from the External Affairs Ministry should have been sent to attend the Tibetan spiritual leader's programme.

He said Chinese "arrogance" has been on the rise in recent times, and this was "bruising Indian sentiments".

"We must convey our displeasure in strong words at such a development which goes against the spirit of bilateral relations," Vijay said.

BJP has often spoken strongly against Chinese "incursions" into Indian territory in Arunachal Pradesh and Ladakh as well as on the stapled visa controversy.

The opposition party has also alleged that the UPA government was "soft" towards China and that it should exert international pressure on the neighbouring country to make it "mend its ways".