Dharamshala: His Holiness the Dalai Lama, who arrived at India's northeastern Himalayan town of Tawang on Sunday to a grand welcome by thousands of pious Buddhists devotees, underscored that his visit is "non-political and solely aimed at promoting universal brotherhood".

"It's quite usual for China to step up campaign against me wherever I go. It's totally baseless on the part of Chinese Communist government to say that I am encouraging a separatist movement," His Holiness the Dalai Lama told journalists here after inaugurating a museum at the historic Tawang monastery in Arunachal Pradesh state.

On his visit here, His Holiness said he was getting "emotional" as he had crossed this town in 1959 while fleeing from Tibet after armed repression by the government of People's Republic of China.

"I get emotional. When I escaped I had mental stress and anxiety. I had feeling of hopelessness. But the moment I saw (Krishna) Menon and other MEA officials on the border then I had a feeling of reunion and safe," His Holiness the Dalai Lama said.

"So, now I am very happy to be here. My main aim of the visit is promotion of human values wherever I go. Just now I returned from Japan where I explained that the ultimate source of happiness of life is within ourselves," His Holiness added.


"Tibetan Buddhism and culture is passing through a very difficult period. But there is a hope of the religion and culture surviving in this free area, particularly in India. So there is lot of responsibility for people here and in south India to keep the flag flying," His Holiness said.

Before inaugurating the museum, His Holiness the Dalai Lama presided over a prayer meeting and blessed lamas by touching their heads.

At His Holiness the Dalai Lama’s prayer meeting, senior Congress leader Kiran Rijiju (former BJP MP) said: ‘‘It’s a socio-religious visit. Our neighbour should not try to politicise his Holiness’s visit. He has come here to spread the message of peace and harmony. We want to live in peace and revive our trade links with Tibet."

His Holiness the Dalai Lama also urged the Chinese government to genuinely address the basic problems of the Tibetans in Tibet.