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Dalai Lama turns 90, leaders gather in Dharamshala to honour his legacy

Dalai Lama turns 90, leaders gather in Dharamshala to honour his legacy

India Today2 days ago
Dharamshala witnessed a solemn yet spiritually vibrant gathering on the eve of the 90th birthday of the Dalai Lama, where political leaders from across India came together to honour his lifelong commitment to peace, non-violence, and compassion.Union Minister Kiren Rijiju, speaking at the event, reiterated the government's position on religious freedom, stating, "The Dalai Lama institution is purely religious and the Government of India believes there should be no interference in religious matters."
advertisementWishing the Tibetan spiritual leader a long life, Rijiju added that the global community continues to benefit from his wisdom. He refrained from commenting on Chinese objections, saying, "We leave everything to His Holiness."
Echoing similar sentiments, Arunachal Pradesh Chief Minister Pema Khandu said he was there to represent the people of Arunachal Pradesh in what he termed a historic moment. He said that China had no right to interfere in matters related to the Dalai Lama."Buddhism may be in China, but the institution belongs to Tibet and the people across the Himalayan belt who follow it." On geopolitical tensions, Khandu remarked that while both India and China are major economic powers, "issues must be resolved diplomatically; war is not the solution," he said. Khandu added that collaboration between the two nations could offer strong leadership to the world.
Arunachal BJP President Tapir Gao described the Dalai Lama as an institution of love, peace, and compassion, and said the global community must recognise Buddhist culture without bowing to Chinese interference.Union Minister Rajiv Ranjan Singh (Lalan Singh) also attended the event and praised the Dalai Lama's dedication to non-violence. "We have come here to pay respects for his lifelong struggle for peace. The government does not interfere with religion and faith," he stated.
On the occasion, the Dalai Lama issued a special message through his official X account, expressing gratitude to all who celebrated his birthday by promoting kindness and compassion. "While it is important to work for material development, it is vital to focus on achieving peace of mind through cultivating a good heart and being compassionate toward everyone," he said. Reiterating his lifelong commitments, he emphasised the promotion of human values, religious harmony, Indian philosophical wisdom, and the preservation of Tibetan culture.- Ends
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