Dalai Lama trashes China for censorship, propaganda

New York, May 24 (ANI): Tibetan spiritual leader, The Dalai Lama, has trashed China for its censorship and propaganda, saying that Beijing needs to respect humanity's right to openness and free speech.

Addressing 230 Chinese and Tibetan students at New York's Hunter College here on Sunday morning, the New York Daily News quoted the Dalai Lama, as saying: "Under fear, with police watching, how can harmony develop? Harmony by gun - impossible."

He said he believed in self-governing "autonomy" for Tibet within China instead of total separation from the super-power - but that apparently hasn't won him any friends in high places.

"Some Chinese officials, they describe me as a demon - with horns," he said, holding two fingers up to his shaven head to illustrate. "Their thinking is almost like children's."

Some Tibetans have told him they fear visiting his government-in-exile in Dharamsala, India, because they believe it's infested with Chinese spies.

"Any spy is welcome, we have nothing to hide," he said.

He said the Chinese government had invited him to return to Tibet in the 1980s, but he declined.

"The issue is civil rights. Until they address that, there's no point in my return," the 75-year-old said.

Students said they were in awe on seeing the Tibetan spiritual leader. (ANI)