Centre allows Dalai Lama to visit China border

The Centre has allowed the Dalai Lama to visit forward areas in Ladakh bordering China for religious functions later this week.

“The Dalai Lama is reaching the Nubra valley in Kargil  on July 21. He will stay there for a week during which he will bless followers and attend religious functions at different monasteries,” Tenzin Taklha, joint secretary at the Dalai Lama’s office, said.

The government had on July 11 warned the Dalai Lama against going overboard with China-bashing.

Foreign secretary Nirupama Rao had called on the Dalai Lama and Somdang Rinpoche, prime minister of the Tibetan government-in-exile, in Dharamsala recently and apprised them of the ongoing Sino-India talks at various levels. She had suggested that the Tibetan leaders exercise restraint in making “observations about China”, so that Sino-Indian relations are not affected.

The Centre had also denied permission to the 17th Gyalwang Karmapa Ogyen Trinley Dorjee and aides to travel to the US. The Dharamsala-based Karmapa, the young head of the Kagyu tradition of Tibetan Buddhism, was scheduled to leave for the US on a two-week religious tour on the invitation of Karma Triyana Dharamchakra Centre in Woodstock, New York.

The government’s denial of permission has upset his followers. “We fail to understand why restrictions were imposed on his movement as the tour was purely religious. The government has also not cited any reason for declining permission,” Gonpo Tsering said.

Karmapa had entered India to reach Dharamsala in January 2001 after crossing the highest Himalayan passes in the midst of winter when he was 15. He is the only Tibetan religious personality who is recognised both by the Dalai Lama and China.