India has a consistent policy of treating the Dalai Lama as a respected religious leader and an honoured guest in the country, theministry of external affairssaid.
The assertion, in response to a question, came two days after Prime MinisterNarendra Modicalled up the Tibetan spiritual leader and greeted him on his 86th birthday.
The 14th Dalai Lama has made India his Home since fleeing China in 1959. The Chinese government officials and the Dalai Lama or his representatives have not met in formal negotiations since 2010.
Beijing has in the past accused the Dalai Lama of indulging in “separatist” activities and trying to split Tibet and considers him as a divisive figure.