Dalai an Honourable Guest: PM
Politely refusing Chinese requests seeking an embargo on the Dalai Lama from visiting the northeastern state of Arunachal Pradesh. Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao that the Dalai is an honoured guest, but promised that the visit would not be politicised.
“I explained to Premier Wen that the Dalai Lama is our honoured guest. He is a religious leader.” Premier Singh was speaking in Hua Hin, Thailand, a day after he and Wen met on the sidelines of the Asean-India summit.
“We do not allow the Tibetan refugees to indulge in political activities and proof of that is that we took resolute action against some Tibetans during (the) Olympics (torch relay) last year following reports that some Tibetan refugees might create problems,” he added.
On a week-long tour of the state in November, the Dalai is scheduled to visit Tawang where he will open a hospital built with funds he donated.
The other issue to figure in the talks was over Chinese plans to dam the upper reaches of the Brahmaputra in Tibet.
