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Dalai Lama ends Japan trip, off to Arunachal tomorrow

PTI

The Dalai Lama in a file photo at a hotel in New Delhi, India, on 30 August 2009. The Dalai Lama returned from a week-long visit to Japan on 7 Novermber, a day before his trip to Arunachal Pradesh.File photo/AP/Gurinder Osan/India

After a week-long visit to Japan, Tibetan leader, the Dalai Lama, returned here today, a day ahead of his trip to Arunachal Pradesh.

The Dalai Lama did not speak to waiting mediapersons at the Indira Gandhi International Airport where he arrived amid tight security.

He will undertake a week-long visit to Arunachal Pradesh from tomorrow despite objections by China. In Arunachal, he will be in Itanagar, Tawang and Bomdila, which have already geared up for the long-awaited high-profile visit.

China has been opposing the visit of the 74-year-old exiled Tibetan leader to the north-eastern state but India has made it clear that the “honoured” guest was free to go anywhere in the country.

The Dalai Lama has hit out at China for objecting to the visit, saying it reflected “negative” attitude, as his trip was not political.

Objecting to the visit, China has said it “further exposes” the anti-China and “separatist nature” of the ‘Dalai clique’.

Chinese Foreign Ministry has said the Dalai Lama was causing disharmony in India-China relations.

“I was surprised at China’s criticism. If my visit creates problem, I am very sad, that’s all,” the Nobel laureate had said in Tokyo last week.

Copyright © 2009 PTI

Published in The Economic Times