Dalai Lama travels to Jammu and Ladakh
14 July, 2022 | Riya Girdhar
The famed Thiksay monastery in Leh is among the places the Dalai Lama is scheduled to visit on his journey.
The Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama left for a two-day trip to Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh on Thursday. This was his first official trip away from his base in Dharamshala since the COVID-19 pandemic broke out.
Additionally, the 16th round of Corps Commander-level meetings between China and India, which are scheduled to begin on July 17, are taking place just three days after this visit.
The visit of the Dalai Lama is likely to enrage China because Beijing recently chastised Prime Minister Modi for sending birthday congratulations to the Dalai Lama, who just celebrated his 87th birthday, saying that India should cease interfering in China’s internal affairs using Tibet-related matters.
The Dalai Lama is treated as a guest in India, according to the government’s consistent policy, the External Affairs Ministry said in response to China’s complaint.
“His Holiness is given full permission to carry out his religious and spiritual duties in India with all necessary courtesy. Many of His Holiness’s devotees in India and beyond commemorate his birthday. The Prime Minister’s birthday wishes to His Holiness on his 87th birthday should be viewed in this larger context, according to Bagchi.
Ever since the Dalai Lama sought refuge in India, Beijing has had a problem with him. The Tibetan spiritual leader had to seek refuge in India in the 1950s when China invaded Tibet without authorization. The Dalai Lama wanted to promote a halfway settlement with China to settle the Tibet issue peacefully.
India and China have been at odds since April to May 2020 about Chinese Army violations in the Finger region, Galwan Valley, Hot Springs, and Kongrung Nala, among other places. After intense battles with Chinese troops in the Galwan Valley in June 2020, the situation deteriorated.