New Delhi, Sep 22 (IANS): India's Ministry of Home Affairs has received a formal application for asylum by Baloch nationalist leader Brahumdagh Bugti, an official said on Thursday.

"The ministry has got an application from Brahumdagh Bugti," a ministry official told IANS.

He, however, did not confirm if it was being considered by the government.

Earlier in the day, Bugti, who heads the Baloch Republican Party (BRP), told TimesNow news channel that he was a political leader and should be given a chance to stay in India.

"My request to the Indian Prime Minister is I am a political leader and voice of my people. Please give me a chance to come to India and highlight my issues, meet Indian and global leaders. Please give me asylum, grant me political asylum like you already did to Dalai Lama and S.K. Mujibur Rehman."

"I again want to repeat that please do what is in the interest of both of us. If am asking for too much, then please don't do it (provide asylum)," he said. 

Bugti also said that if granting asylum causes any harm to India's interests, then India should deny his plea.