Beijing: Dismissing the Dalai Lama`s charge that it was training woman agents to kill him, China on Monday said his allegation was "groundless" and "not worth refuting" while its state-run media accused him of playing an "insidious trick".
"In religious cloak, the Dalai Lama has engaged in anti-China separatist activity internationally. He has been spreading rumours to draw public attention," Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said.
"His sensational allegations are not worth refuting," he told a media briefing when asked about the Dalai Lama`s allegation in an interview to a British daily that Chinese agents were training some Tibetan women to poison him while seeking his blessings.
Asked to elaborate on his comments, Hong said it was a "groundless remark" by the Dalai.
The Tibetan spiritual leader was quoted as saying that "some Chinese agents training some Tibetans, especially women, you see, using poison - the hair poisoned, and the scarf poisoned - they were supposed to seek blessing from me, and my hand touch."
The state-run Global Times, however, accused the Dalai Lama of playing an insidious trick.
"If the Central government wanted to `eliminate` the Dalai Lama, why has it waited for such a long time? Isn`t it foolish to take action against Dalai at such an old age?" it said in its editorial titled `Dalai assassination claims mind boggling`.
"Some believe he is playing an insidious trick. He could use his claims as an excuse for any diseases he has in the future. Even if he dies of a normal illness, the speculation would be that he was poisoned," it said.
PTI
