Prime Minister of Tibetan government in exile, Lopsang Sangay, today sought to dismiss Chinese claim over parts of Arunachal Pradesh stating that the McMohan Line was drawn by British India and the then government of Tibet in 1914.
"McMohan border line was drawn as per the agreement signed with the government of Tibet and British India. A similar agreement clearly defines and demarcates the border between Tibet and India in 1940," the Tibetan political leader told reporters.
According to Sangay, the Chinese government claimed that incursion takes place because of some area as there were no clear demarcations.
He, however, said "As far as we are concerned, when Tibet was free, there was no dispute whatsoever. Anyone from India could walk over to Tibet and no visa was needed. There was no restriction imposed."
The Tibetan leader, who was elected Prime Minister in 2011, was accompanying the Dalai Lama during his maiden visit to Meghalaya since his cross over from China over 50 years ago.
Stating that Tibet plays an important role in South Asia today, Sangay said, "Tibet should also be core issue of India environmentally, spiritually, geo-politically and there is every reason that India could play a very constructive role in resolving the China-Tibet conflict."
"Tibet is called as the third pole having the third highest ice reservoir after Antarctica and Arctic in the either poles. When the ice melted, it formed into fresh water for more than one billion people in Asia including India," he said.
Pointing out most of the major and important rivers of the world such as Brahmaputra (India), Yellow river (China) starts from Tibet, he said, "In that sense, Tibet is also vital as far as climate of Asia is concerned specially in this part of the region where the delay of monsoon is dependent upon the Tibetan Plateau."
Further asserting that the Tibet's civilisation for preserving environment has roots in India and the democracy we practise in elections is very much Indian democracy, he said that the Tibetan movement is made in India and in fact led by people who are born and brought up in India.
Quoting the Dalai Lama, he said India is our Guru and we (Tibetans) are India's disciple because we follow Nalanda's tradition of Buddhism.
During his over two years public service, Sangay claimed he had covered 95 per cent of Tibetan communities in India and 60-70 per cent Tibetans living around the world in 47 countries.
