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Dalai row: India won't join issue with China

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The Dalai Lama gives a lecture at Delhi University in New Delhi on 10 August 2010. The Lama delivered a lecture on “Ethics for the New Millennium” at the university’s convention hall, in memory of the scientist and academic DR Kothari.File photo/AFP/Getty Images/Prakash Singh/India

India on Wednesday refused to get involved in a slanging match with China despite Beijing raking up the issue of the Dalai Lama’s meeting with PM Manmohan Singh and saying that New Delhi must not “disturb” bilateral ties between the two countries.

Officials said India’s position on the spiritual leader was well known and that the Chinese remarks have had no impact on it.

“The foreign minister said on Saturday that the Dalai Lama is an honoured guest and that we won’t allow anti-China activities on our soil. Tibet Autonomous Region is also recognised as an inseparable part of China and that has been our position all along,” said an official.

Despite foreign minister S M Krishna reiterating India’s position on Tibet on Saturday, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Jiang Yu on Tuesday warned India to “cautiously handle the relevant issue and avoid disturbing overall China-India relations”.

“The Indian government has many times expressed that they acknowledge that Tibet is an inseparable part of China and that they will not allow Tibetans in India to engage in anti-Chinese activities,” he said.

“China hopes the Indian side will abide by its promises, cautiously handle the relevant issue and avoid disturbing overall China-India relations,” he added.

Published in The Times of India