Arriving in this border town to a rushing reception on a visit resented China, Dalai Lama today rebuffed it for objecting to his trip to Arunachal Pradesh and expressed surprise over its claims to Tawang, revered seat of Buddhism.

The 74 year old Tibetan spiritual leader, who is visiting the remote north eastern state after gap of six year drawing international attention in the wake of Chinese protests, also rejected Beijing’s charge he was encouraging a separatist movement calling it baseless. The Nobel Laureate characteristics his “emotional” visit to Tawang, which has strong ties to Tibet, as Non-political.

Dalai Lama said the people liberation army of china had occupied Tawang and nearly reached Bom Dila during the Sino-India war in 1962 “But the then Chinese government declared a unilateral ceasefire and withdrew its forces. Now the Chinese have got different views. This is something which I really don’t know. I am a little bit surprised.” he said.

He said there was no point in holding talks with china on Tibet issue unless Beijing spells out its policy out its policy on it. The Dalai recalled his visit to Tawang 50 years ago while fleeing across the Himalayas after a failed uprising against Chinese rule in Tibet.

The spiritual leader, who flew to Tawang from Guwahati this morning was welcomed by cheering Tibetans as he drove along the 10-km stretch from the helipad to Tawang Monastery; accompanied by Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Mr Dorjee Kandu.