Itanagar: Around 50 newsmen, some
representing the foreign media, have so far contacted the
administration of the border town of Tawang In Arunachal
Pradesh for accommodation and permits to cover the visit of
Buddhist spiritual head the Dalai Lama from November 8,
official sources said.
Chief Secretary Tabom Bam denied having received any
instruction from the Centre about restrictions on foreign
mediapersons following the recent war of words between India
and China over the visit.
China, which claims Arunachal Pradesh as its own
territory, accused the Dalai Lama of seeking to undermine
Beijing`s relationship with New Delhi by visiting Tawang on
the Sino-Indian border. China had earlier opposed the visit.
Chairman of the state level reception committee, T G R
Rimpoche said he had heard of an advisory to restrict the
movement of foreign journalists, "but it is not in black and
white. It may be verbal."
Rimpoche, a close aide of Dalai Lama and a former
minister said according to his information some foreign
journalists have reached Tawang and some more may go in the
guise of tourists.
"We cannot drive them away from Tawang," he said.
Bureau Report
