Chinese media accuses India of "using" Dalai Lama; Kiren Rijiju hits back

Beijing: Chinese media on Tuesday accused India of "using" the Dalai Lama to express its displeasure to the neighbouring country over various issues.

The allegations came from a Communist Party-run tabloid, Global Times over the Tibetan spiritual leader's upcoming visit to Tawang in Arunachal Pradesh.

The paper quoted an unnamed expert as saying, "This has become India's habit to use the Dalai Lama to express its displeasure to China, especially when bilateral talks fail to include their demands or to pander to domestic anti-China issues."

What else the expert said?

- India should deliver its political commitments on Tibet-related issues.

- Dalai Lama's visit to Tawang, which China hopes will be returned, will effect relations between India and China.

India, however, clarified over the issue by saying that the Dalai Lama's visit was purely a religious affair and without a political message.

"There is no political angle behind His Holiness's visit to Arunachal Pradesh. It is completely religious. Arunachal Pradesh is an inseparable part of India and China should not object to his visit and interfere in India's internal affairs," Minister of State for Home Kiren Rijiju.