'Tibet would like to remain with China'

The Dalai Lama asks India to play a role in achieving the goal to make the region a "zone of peace".

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama on Sunday said Tibet's interest is to remain as a part of China and asked India to play a role in achieving the goal to make the region a "zone of peace".

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Seeking "political freedom", he asked Beijing to stop "cultural genocide" in Tibet and adopt "compassionate approach" and conciliatory measure for the resolution of Tibet issue.

"To remain with the Peoples Republic of China is in our interest," the Buddhist spiritual head said delivering ML Sondhi Memorial Lecture in New Delhi.

"But we are seeking political freedom to preserve our culture and environment and are opposed to cultural genocide being promoted by China due to increasing influx of the Han people and spread of Chinese language in Tibet," he said.

Describing the increasing Chinese Han population and deployment of Peoples Liberation Army in Tibet as main "hindrance towards attaining political Autonomy of Tibet", the Dalai Lama asked Bejing to downsize military and stop shifting mainland Han Chinese to Tibet.

"This will help achieve our goal to make Tibet a 'zone of peace' free from nuclear weapon", he said and asked India to play its role to help realize this goal.