In a new twist to the Kailash Mansarovar issue, China on Tuesday denied that it had rejected a suggestion by Defence Minister George Fernandes to allow Indian pilgrims to use an alternate route to visit the holy mountain in Tibet.

"As far as I know the Indian defence minister did not raise the issue during his visit to China," Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Zhang Qiyue said in Beijing.

Deputy Prime Minister Lal Kishenchand Advani had on Monday said that during his visit in April, Fernandes had raised the issue of the alternate route to Mt Kailash via Leh and that China had rejected this suggestion.

He said during his visit to Beijing next month, Prime Minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee would once again take up the matter.