Advani calls on Dalai Lama, discusses Tibet (Lead)
May 18th, 2011 - 7:40 pm ICT by IANS
Dharamsala, May 18 (IANS) Senior Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader L.K. Advani Wednesday called on Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama at his official palace in this Himachal Pradesh town, officials said.
During his over an-hour-long luncheon meeting, Advani said his dream of meeting the Tibetan spiritual leader at his palace in McLeodganj, at a steep nine-km drive from this town, has been realised, the Dalai Lama’s aides said.
Talking to reporters after the meeting, Advani said issues related to Tibet were discussed.
“I tried to find out from him (the Dalai Lama) about any change in China’s position on Tibet and he said there has not been any change until now, but hoped there would be,” Advani said.
Chimme Choekyappa, private secretary to the Dalai Lama, told IANS that the meeting lasted for more than an hour.
He said Advani’s daughter Pratibha and Chief Minister Prem Kumar Dhumal were also present.
“It was just a courtesy call. They (Dalai Lama and Advani) are old friends. They occasionally called upon each other and have a lot of respect for each other.
“Advani had promised to His Holiness that one day he would come and meet him in his hometown Dharamsala. At the meeting, he said his dreams were realised,” Choekyappa said.
The former deputy prime minister and his daughter reached Dharamsala Tuesday evening to witness the Indian Premier League (IPL) match between Kings XI Punjab and Royal Challengers Bangalore.
Advani was invited by the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association president Anurag Thakur, who is the BJP MP from Hamirpur.
Later, the Kings XI Punjab players had an audience with the Dalai Lama at his official palace.
The Nobel laureate presented the cricketers a ‘khada’, a traditional white scarf given by the Tibetans as a mark of honour.
He also allowed them to get themselves photographed with him.
The Dalai Lama, 75, has lived in India since fleeing his homeland in 1959 after a Chinese army crackdown. His government-in-exile, which is not recognised by any country, is based here.
Celebrities like Hollywood stars Richard Gere and former James Bond Pierce Brosnan are frequent visitors to the town to meet the Dalai Lama.
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Tags: anurag, association president, bharatiya janata party, bjp leader, chinese army, cricket association, dalai lama, deputy prime minister, hamirpur, himachal pradesh, l k advani, luncheon meeting, mcleodganj, nobel laureate, pratibha, private secretary, thakur, tibetan spiritual leader, tibetans, town officials