Government refusing foreign media visit to Arunachal Pradesh to cover Dalai Lama trip

New Delhi, Nov 6 : The Central Government has reportedly refused permission to foreign media to travel to Arunachal Pradesh to cover the proposed visit of the Dalai Lama.

The Union Government on Thursday revoked its earlier permission given to four foreign correspondents, besides cancelling fresh permits.

Earlier, fourteen Delhi-based foreign journalists and five others had sought permission to travel to Arunachal Pradesh to cover the visit. The Ministry of External Affairs said that these applications were being processed.

As per the rules, foreigners have to approach the MEA for Restricted Area Permit to travel to the state.

The Dalai Lama will be undertaking a week-long visit to Arunachal Pradesh, a visit over which China has raised strong objections.

During his visit, he is expected to visit the Tawang Monastery. He is also expected to inaugurate a super-specialty hospital.

On October 19, the Arunchal Government''s state reception committee had cleared the Dalai Lama''s visit to the state.

Controversy arose over his visit, when China raised strong objections to it on grounds of Arunachal Pradesh being a disputed territory and the Dalai Lama being seen as a dissident and renegade leader.

New Delhi retaliated by saying that Arunachal Pradesh was an integrated part of India and that it saw the Dalai Lama as an honoured guest of the Indian Government. This view was conveyed by the Prime Minister, Dr. Manmohan Singh, when he met his Chinese counterpart Wen Jiabao on the sidelines of the ASEAN Summit in Hua Hin, Thailand, last week.

--ANI