Dalai Lama Hits Out At China, Says His Visit Is Non-Political

Tawang (Arunachal Pradesh): Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, who arrived in Arunachal Pradesh Sunday for a warm welcome by hundreds of monks, rejected accusations that China was leading a separatist movement, and said his visit to the northeastern Indian state not politics.

“It is quite normal for China to step up the campaign against me, wherever I go. It is totally unfounded by the Chinese Communist government to say that I am encouraging a separatist movement,” the Dalai Lama told reporters at the Tawang monastery after inauguration of a museum.

The spiritual leader of Tibetans, which has thousands of followers around the world descended on this picture-pretty town perched at an altitude of over 11,000 feet, near the Chinese border in a week-long visit.

“My visit to Tawang is political and not to promote universal brotherhood, and nothing more,” he said.

“I am delighted to be here in Tawang as there are many emotions involved. When I escaped from China in 1959, I was mentally and physically very weak as I was ill with dysentery,” he said.

It was through Tawang, a revered seat of Buddhism, the Dalai Lama fled the Chinese to enter India, where he established the base in Dharamsala, in Himachal Pradesh.
Thousands welcome the Dalai Lama in Tawang
Tawang also spiritually significant to Tibetans as the sixth Dalai Lama was born in the 17th century in the Monastery of Urgelling near here.

“The Chinese will not haunt us in 1959, but when I arrived in India, he started talking against me. I am always surprised (by reactions of China),” said the Dalai Lama.

“Tibetan Buddhism and culture is going through a very difficult period. But there is hope of religion and culture to survive in this free zone, especially in India. So there are very responsible people here and in the South India to keep the flag flying, “he said.

Thousands of residents in traditional dress and monks dressed in maroon robes, waiting for each side of eight mile road that runs from the heliport of the Tawang monastery, he greeted a smiling Dalai Lama as their motorcade wound through the field mountainous.

The highly revered spiritual leader appeared jovial as he was seen waving to the crowd.

In the monastery, about 800 monks, including dozens of child monks, the Dalai Lama welcomed amid chanting Buddhist religious hymns as a strong smell of incense hung in the air.

Giant Gongs were interpreted by the monks, while the priests of the monastery prostrate as the Dalai Lama got out. Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Dorjee Khandu and other high priests then led the spiritual leader in the monastery

Tags: Arunachal Pradesh, China, Dalai Lama