Dalai Lama gives his blessing to 'Modi-Xi' meet

By: Siddhant Sibbal

In what seems to be blessings by his holiness Dalai Lama, the Tibetian spiritual leader has said that Modi-Xi talks are a welcome step. In an exclusive conversation with WION, Dalai Lama said "use of force is outdated. Must meet people and talk. Realistically speaking neither India nor China can destroy each other. You have to live side by side." He was speaking at IIT Delhi.

The Indian Prime minister will be meeting President of China Xi Jinping in Wuhan for an informal summit on 26th and 27th. The informal summit will see no joint statement or communique being issued and both the leaders will have "strategic conversation" on larger and broader issues.

Dalai Lama's comments matter more since in recent months advisory has been issued by MEA for restricting officials to interact with him. New Delhi has been trying to assuage some of China's concerns about Dalai Lama. Events marking his exile had been shifted to Dharamshala from New Delhi.

Speaking at the same event Dalai Lama lauded India's religious harmony and said India is an example of how all religions can stay in peace. He also added that Tibet has the right to preserve its own language and culture while staying in China.

Dalai Lama has been a thorny issue for China and Bejing has been vocal about it and even taking strict action against countries hosting him. But his presence in India is an irritant to Bejing and a reminder that its control over Tibet will always be questioned.