Facing increasing criticism for his ‘Middle Way’ policy, the Dalai Lama on Tuesday threatened to quit as the head of the Tibetan exile movement if the unrest in Tibet go out of control. He also rejected Chinese charges that he was inciting violence there.

Asserting he did not want independence for Tibet by wresting control from China, the 73-year-old spiritual leader appealed to his fellowmen to remain calm and not to resort to violence. The Dalai Lama said he wanted “good relations” with China and that he is opposed to all forms of violence.

“If Tibetans choose violence in their agitation and if things become out of control(in Tibet) then my only option is to resign,” he told reporters at his home in Dharmashala, the headquarters of the Tibetan government-in-exile.
Tha Lama’s comments came hours after Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao blamed him for the violence in Tibet and said Beijing will only hold talks with the spiritual leader if he gives up independence ambitions for his homeland.
He however made it clear that “independence is out of the question. Even if 1,000 Tibetans sacrifice their lives, it will not help.”

The Tibetan spiritual leader said “during the 1987-88 agitation also, I had stated that if Tibetan people adopt violence, then I shall not be in a position to lead them and that there shall be no other alternative for me but to resign.”

The Lama also said Tibetans and Chinese needed to live “side by side”.

Dalai’s secretary Tenzin Talka later said there was no question of the the Nobel Peace laureate stepping down as the spiritual leader and that he would have to quit as the political leader if the Tibetans choose the path of violence.