Dalai Lama

NEW DELHI: India has asked China to not attach political meaning to the Dalai Lama ’s forthcoming visit to Arunachal Pradesh and Tawang.

The Dalai Lama, said the MEA spokesperson, “is a revered religious figure who is treated as such by the government and the people of India. Government has no say in his travels within India and no political meaning should be attached to them as such.”

India also pushed back against reports of the cancellation of licence of a Christian charity organization, Compassion International. Answering questions after a story in the New York Times, MEA said, “any NGO - foreign or Indian, is to operate in India – or for that matter anywhere else in the world - within the laws of the country.” While skirting the issue of whether an RSS functionary had approached the NGO, the MEA said it did not affect government decisions. T

he NGO will cease its activities in India from March 15. “We have been fully transparent in this regard, including in our conversations with the concerned on the prevalent situation have been conveyed to all concerned.”

India again asked Nepal to include all sections of society in constitution formation. Commenting on the killing of Madhesis in Saptari, the MEA said, “It has been our consistent view that political leaders in Nepal address the Constitution issue through dialogue and consultations with participation of all sections of its society. India will continue to support efforts for peace, progress and stability in Nepal.”

