Dalai Lama leaves for Jammu - Kashmir and Ladakh visit from Dharamshala

Leh, Jul 14: Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama on Thursday (Jul 14) embarked on a two-day visit to Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh, marking his first official tour outside his base in Dharamshala since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic.

 

 

 

 

This visit is also taking place just three days before the 16th round of Corps Commander-level meetings between India and China, which according to sources is expected to start on July 17. During his tour, the Dalai Lama is expected to visit the famous Thiksay monastery in Leh.

 

 

 

 

 

The Tibetan spiritual leader's trip is likley to irk China as Beijing had recently criticized Prime Minister Modi, for extending wishes to the Dalai Lama who recently celebrated his 87th birthday, stating that India should stop using Tibet-related issues to interfere in China's internal affairs.

 

 

The External Affairs Ministry had slammed China's criticism and said that it has been a consistent policy of the govt to treat the Dalai Lama as a guest in India. MEA Spokesperson Bagchi said, "His Holiness is accorded all due courtesies and freedom to conduct his religious and spiritual activities in India. His Holiness' birthday is celebrated by many of his followers in India and abroad. The birthday greetings by the Prime Minister to his Holiness on his 87th birthday should be seen in this overall context."