New Delhi: After a week-long visit to Japan,
Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama returned here on Saturday, 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" 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.
Arrangements for The Dalai Lama's visit have been
completed, sources in the Tibetan government-in-exile said in
Dharamsala.
Detailing the itinerary of the 74-year-old spiritual
leader, the sources said, The Dalai Lama will be arriving at
Guwahati via Kolkata tomorrow. He will leave for Tawang from
there by a helicopter on the same day.
The spiritual guru will give a discourse at the
300-year old monastery at Tawang from November 9 to 11, at
Dirang on November 12, Bomdial on November 13 and capital
Itanagar on November 14, they said.
The noble laureate will also inaugurate a modern
hospital at Tawang for which he has donated Rs 20 lakh, the
sources said.
This will be sixth visit of the Tibetan monk to
Arunachal Pradesh since he fled his homeland in 1959 after a
failed uprising and travelled to India through Tawang route to
take asylum.
During his last visit to Arunachal Pradesh in 2003 he
had skipped Tawang.
Bureau Report
First Published: Saturday, November 07, 2009, 22:10