Nagender Singh
Shimla, July 10 – Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama will start his journey to Leh from July 14, the first visit out of Dharamshala after the spread of Covid -19 across the world.
“The 14th Dalai Lama will be out from Dharamshala to Leh from July 14 for the first time since the emergence of global Covid-19 outbreak. He is visiting Leh at request of the Ladakh Buddhist Association to give teaching to his followers there,” said Thupen Tsewang, President of the Ladakh Buddhist Association.
The Tibetan government-in-exile said that after spending most of the time at his residence since the global COVID-19 outbreak, the Dalai Lama agreed to visit and bless devotees in Ladakh.
This visit is being planned at a time when India and China’s lingering border stand-off remains unresolved.
China had recently displayed its concern on the day Prime Minister Modi gave his wishes to the Dalai Lama on his 87th birthday.
Beijing criticised PM Modi for greeting the Dalai Lama on his 87th birthday, saying India should stop using Tibet-related issues to interfere in China’s internal affairs.
“It is a consistent policy of the government of India to treat His Holiness Dalai Lama as an honoured guest in India and as a respected religious leader who enjoys a large following in India,” Mr Bagchi said at a weekly media briefing.
The external affairs ministry spokesperson was responding to questions on the Chinese reaction over Mr Modi’s greetings.
“His Holiness is accorded all due courtesies and freedom to conduct his religious and spiritual activities in India. His birthday is celebrated by many of his followers in India and abroad,” Mr Bagchi said.
Dalai Lama made a visit to Ladakh in 2018, about a year before the outbreak of Covid-19 in the year 2019.
The Tibetan spiritual leader had fled to India from Tibet in 1959 after the failed uprising against the Chinese government. The Tibetan government-in-exile is headquartered at McLeodganj in Dharamshala in Himachal Pradesh.
