India on Thursday indicated that there will be no change in the hospitality extended to Tibetan spiritual leader, the Dalai Lama, even after his stepping down from the present formal position as he was an “honoured guest” of the country.
“His holiness the Dalai Lama is an honoured guest in India. And he is a spiritual and religious leader,” MEA spokesperson said when asked if India will have any problem if the Tibetan leader continues staying in the country even after his retirement.
China, meanwhile, said the talk of retirement “are his tricks to deceive the international community.” “The Dalai is a political exile unde a religious cloak, long engaged in activities aimed at splitting China,” Chinese foreign ministry spokesmwoman Jiang Yu said.
“The government-in-exile is an illegal political organisation and no country in the world recognises it,” she added.
The Dalai lama announced he would step down as political head of Tibetan government-in-exile but will remain the spiritual leader. —PTI