China's warning on Karmapa issue

BEIJING, FEB. 5. China today issued a veiled warning to India against granting `refugee status' to the 17th Karmapa, Lama Ogyen Trinlay Dorjee and hoped that New Delhi would handle the issue prudently. ``The Indian Government has clearly said that its will not allow the Karmapa to engage in any anti-Chinese activities nor allow any foreign force to use him to engage in such activities``.

``We hope the Indian Government will continue to uphold this principle and, from the overall situation of bilateral relations, prudently and appropriately handle the issue concerned'', the Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman, Mr.Zhu Bangzao, said.

The Chinese response came in the wake of media reports that India has granted `refugee status, to the 15-year-old Karmapa, who fled Tibet last year to take shelter in Dharamsala.

The Indian embassy here has not confirmed the media reports. ``We have seen the statements made by Dalai Lama's side'' , an embassy official said, adding the government has not made any comment on the issue.

- PTI

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Section  : International
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