Dalai Lama questions China’s claim to Tawang

The Dalai Lama began his controversial visit to Arunachal Pradesh on Sunday with strong words against China’s objections to his travelling to the region, and even referred to the 2006 massacre of Tibetans, often compared to the Tiananmen crackdown. “Wherever I go they protest. It is totally baseless... Of course my visit here is non-political,” he said, going on to question the Asian giant’s claims to the north-eastern state.

The spiritual leader’s remarks, made after his arrival at the monastery town of Tawang, could result in another round of tension between India and China. There was a lull in the war of words after prime minister Manmohan Singh explained to Chinese premier Wen Jiabao that the Tibetan was a religious leader and New Delhi had taken care to ensure that he and his followers did not take part in any political activity.

But the Dalai Lama did not hold back on Sunday, reasserting his position that Arunachal was an integral part of India and rubbishing China’s claims to Tawang just as he had done during his recent visit to Japan. At that time, analysts had felt that the spiritual leader was airing these views because he could not say anything controversial during his week-long visit to Arunachal. But he made the point again, this time from Indian soil.

He said that the Peoples Liberation Army had overrun Tawang in 1962, and withdrew. If China claimed Tawang, then the army should not have left. The Dalai Lama hinted that China’s current claims are an afterthought. “The then Chinese government declared a unilateral ceasefire and withdrew (its forces). Now the Chinese have got different views. This is something which I really don’t know. I am little bit surprised,” he said.

The Dalai Lama recalled his visit to Tawang in 1959 when he was fleeing Tibet and said he was emotional about this town. “I get emotional. When I escaped I had mental stress and anxiety. I had a feeling of hopelessness. But the moment I saw (Krishna) Menon and MEA officials on the border, then I had a feeling of reunion and safety,” the Dalai Lama told reporters after landing here by helicopter from Guwahati, on a cold clear morning.
“So, now I am very happy to be here. My main aim of the visit is promotion of human values wherever I go. Just now I returned from Japan where I explained that the ultimate source of happiness of life is within ourselves,” he said. Asked whether he had any message for China, he said, “nothing, no, nothing”. He did, however, say that the Tibetan spirit remained strong despite the Chinese crackdown and he slammed Beijing for the hard line it is taking against the Tibetans.

He was greeted with thousands of his followers lining the route and holding out white and yellow prayer scarves. He waved and blessed his followers, who had no complaints that contrary to expectations he did not stop at strategic spots where all preparations to welcome him had been made. Later, the Dalai Lama had lunch with chief minister Dorjee Khandu, who is a devout follower.