China rakes up Dalai Lama, Tibet with Pratibha Patil

China today raised the question of the "activities" of the Dalai Lama with president Pratibha Patil and sought reiteration of India's stand that Tibet is a part of China, striking a somewhat discordant note in Patil's discussions, which have otherwise been described as "fruitful".

Jia Qinglin, who chairs the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and is ranked fourth in the leadership hierarchy, brought up these issues during his meeting with Patil, a day after her talks with president Hu Jintao and premier Wen Jiabao, at which no such issue was raised.

Playing down the episode, foreign secretary Nirupama Rao said the Chinese had sought reiteration of India's stand on Tibet and an assurance that anti-China activities are not permitted on Indian soil.

"It often happens that in the course of discussions between India and China all issues are raised.... it is a complex relationship," Rao told reporters, adding that there were many issues on which the two sides have sought "greater awareness of each other's concerns".

The 70-year-old Jia, who presides over the 2,196-member CPPCC, regarded as China's top political advisory body, described the Dalai Lama as more of a political leader than a spiritual figure.

Patil had called the Dalai Lama a spiritual leader who stays in India.

On Tibet, Patil is believed to have told Jia that India regards the Tibetan Autonomous Region as a part of China and does not allow any anti-China activity by Tibetan exiles in India.

The president is believed to have cited the example of the passage of the Olympic torch through India ahead of the Beijing Olympics two years ago when the government had taken steps to ensure that nothing untoward happened.

Later, at her first public speech during her six-day state visit, Patil sent a subtle but clear message to the Chinese leadership that "mutual understanding of each other's sensitivities" holds the key to "deeper and sturdier friendship" between the Asian giants.