New Delhi: India has a consistent policy to treat the old Dalai as a respected religious leader and honorable guest in the country, the external ministry said on Thursday.
Affirmation, in response to the question, came two days after Prime Minister Narendra Modi called Tibet’s spiritual leader and welcomed him on his 86th birthday.
“This is a consistent policy of the Indian government to treat his deadly holiness as a respectable guest in India and as a respected religious leader who enjoys many followers in India,” said MEA spokesman Arindam Bagchi on the media briefing.
“His birthday was celebrated by many followers in India and abroad,” he added.
Bagchi answered questions about the Indian government who hoped the Dalai Lama on his birthday.
Prime Minister Modi on Tuesday said on Twitter whom he was talking to spiritual leader Tibet and welcomed him on his birthday in what was seen in a few quarters as a fine message to China in the midst of tense bonds between India and the country on the border deadlock in Ladakh Eastern Measure.
Some Union ministers included Nitin Gadkari, Hardeep Singh Puri and Dharmendra Pradhan and Chief of Minister of Separation of Pema Khandu (Arunachal Pradesh), Arvind Kejriwal (Delhi) and Prem Singh Tamang (Sikkim) were among those who were also tweeted to deliver their greetings to their Tibet to Tibet they are spiritual leaders.
Dalai Lama while responding to birthday greetings said in the virtual address he has taken “full advantage” of Indian freedom and religious harmony and committed to reviving ancient Indian knowledge.
Tibetan leader also said he was committed to nonviolent and affection “until my death”.
The Dalai Lama 14th has made India since running away from China in 1959.
Chinese government officials and the Dalai Lama or their representatives have not met in formal negotiations since 2010.
Beijing in the past accused the Dalai Lama to indulge in “separatists” and activities Trying to divide Tibet and think of it as a divisive figure.
However, Tibet’s spiritual leader has insisted that he did not seek independence but “true autonomy for all Tibetans who live in three traditional Tibetan provinces” under the “middle road approach”.