Media reach Tawang for Dalai Lama's visit

Around 50 newsmen, some representing the foreign media, have so far contacted the administration of the border town of Tawang In Arunachal Pradesh for accommodation and permits to cover the visit of Buddhist spiritual head the Dalai Lama from November 8, official sources said.

Chief secretary Tabom Bam denied having received any instruction from the Centre about restrictions on foreign mediapersons following the recent war of words between India and China over the visit.

China, which claims Arunachal Pradesh as its own territory, accused the Dalai Lama of seeking to undermine Beijing's relationship with New Delhi by visiting Tawang on the Sino-Indian border. China had earlier opposed the visit.

Chairman of the state level reception committee, TGR Rimpoche said he had heard of an advisory to restrict the movement of foreign journalists, "but it is not in black and white. It may be verbal."

Rimpoche, a close aide of Dalai Lama and a former minister said according to his information some foreign journalists have reached Tawang and some more may go in the guise of tourists. "We cannot drive them away from Tawang," he said.