As China breathes fire over Dalai Lama's visit, Arunachal CM's Tibet comment makes global headline

Itanagar: As Beijing blows hot and cold over Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama's visit to Arunachal Pradesh, Chief Minister Pema Khandu's explosive comment that India shares border with Tibet and not China may have added fuel to the fire even as it made global headlines.

On Wednesday, Beijing warned New Delhi that it "severely damaged China-India relations" by enabling the Tibetan spiritual leader's visit to Arunachal.

China claims Arunachal Pradesh is part of their territory while India says it is an inseparable part of the country.

Though Beijing considers the 81-year-old as a separatist, New Delhi has dismissed that description, saying he has a devoted following in the region.

"Beijing has no right to threaten Delhi on the Dalai Lama's movement within the country as India shares boundary with Tibet and not China," NDTV quoted Khandu as saying.

"China has no business telling us what to do and what not to do because it is not our next-door neighbour," he added.

Referring to his comment, The Washington Post wrote Indian Prime Minister Narendra “Modi isn't the only one making provocations.

“The chief minister of Arunachal Pradesh decided to take a still less Chinese-friendly line over the Dalai Lama's visit."

On Tuesday, the Nobel peace laureate received a rapturous welcome in the town of Bomdila in Arunachal.

Dalai Lama had fled Tibet in 1959 after a failed uprising.

He had entered India through Arunachal Pradesh.