Dalai Lama an honoured guest of India, says S.M. Krishna

New Delhi, Aug.21 (ANI): India said on Saturday that it considers Tibetan leader the Dalai Lama an "honoured guest" but does not "encourage" him to engage in political activities.

Responding to a question put to him regarding Chinese protest, during a joint press conference with Japanese Foreign Minister Katsuya Okada in New Delhi, Mr. Krishna said: "India's position (on Tibet and the Dalai Lama) has been stated repeatedly, unequivocally and categorically."

He said he had told the Chinese Foreign Minister earlier that the Dalai Lama is an "honoured guest" of India and a "spiritual leader" respected by millions of people in the country.

"We do not encourage anyone to get into politics or any other activity that could affect relations between the two country," Krishna said.

External Affairs Minister S M Krishna said today that India considers Tibetan Autonomous Region as part of China and "that should bring down curtains on any controversy".

'We do not encourage anyone to get into political activities which will concern the relationship between the two countries,' he said

The Chinese government has reportedly conveyed its objection over the meeting through diplomatic channels.

Reacting to China's objections, Tempa Tsering, the Dalai Lama's representative in Delhi, has stated that the Tibetan spiritual leader made a courtesy call on Manmohan Singh to thank him for the hospitality shown in the last five decades.

There was nothing unusual about the meeting, he added. (ANI)