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India has never used me against China, says Dalai Lama

Rubbishing media reports that India is using the Dalai Lama as a diplomatic leverage to challenge China, the Tibetan spiritual…

India has never used me against China, says Dalai Lama

Dalai Lama (PHOTO: AFP)

Rubbishing media reports that India is using the Dalai Lama as a diplomatic leverage to challenge China, the Tibetan spiritual leader on Wednesday said that India has never used him against China.

"India has never used me against China," the Dalai Lama was quoted as saying by a news channel.

"Tibet is part of China but it needs more development," he added.

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Earlier, Chinese state media carried reports suggesting that India is using the Dalai Lama as a diplomatic leverage to challenge China. The Chinese reaction to the Dalai Lama's visit to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh came in an article in the state-run Global Times.

The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Tuesday reacted to China's objection to the Dalai Lama's visit to Arunachal Pradesh and refused to budge from its stand that the Tibetan spiritual leader was free to go anywhere in India.

"The government has clearly stated on several occasions that HHDL (His Holiness the Dalai Lama) is a revered religious leader, who is deeply respected as such by the Indian people," the MEA said.

Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Kiren Rijiju on Tuesday had said that the Dalai Lama's visit is purely religious in nature and there is no need to create 'artificial controversy' over his visit.

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