Arunachal Pradesh, Sunday 08 November 2009: Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama is all set to begin his week-long visit to Arunachal Pradesh on Sunday. The visit of the Dalai Lama, who returned to India on Saturday from his Japan trip, comes amid strong objections from China.

There is a dispute between India and China over Arunachal Pradesh, and Beijing opposes the Dalai Lama’s visit to the northeastern Indian state. New Delhi has however made it clear that the 74-year-old exiled Tibetan leader is its “honoured guest” and was free to go anywhere in the country.

The Dalai Lama has hit out at China for objecting to the visit, saying it reflected “negative” attitude, as his trip was not political.

Objecting to the visit, China has said it “further exposes” the anti-China and “separatist nature” of the ‘Dalai clique’. The Chinese Foreign Ministry has even said the Dalai Lama was causing disharmony in India-China relations.

“I was surprised at China’s criticism. If my visit creates problem, I am very sad, that’s all,” said the Nobel laureate in Tokyo last week. Meanwhile, the people of Arunachal Pradesh are all geared up to welcome the spiritual leader. During his trip, the Dalai Lama will visit Itanagar, Tawang and Bomdila.

Arrangements for the Dalai Lama’s visit have been completed, sources in the Tibetan government-in-exile said in Dharamsala.

Detailing the itinerary of the spiritual leader, sources said the Dalai Lama will be arriving at Guwahati via Kolkata on Sunday. He will leave for Tawang from there by a helicopter on the same day.

The spiritual guru will give a discourse at the 300-year old monastery at Tawang from November 9 to 11, at Dirang on November 12, Bomdial on November 13 and capital Itanagar on November 14, they said.

The Noble laureate will also inaugurate a modern hospital at Tawang for which he has donated for Rs 20 lakh, the sources said.

This will be the sixth visit of the Tibetan monk to Arunachal Pradesh since he fled his homeland in 1959 after a failed uprising and travelled to India through Tawang route to take asylum.

(News agency)