Dalai Lama, the spiritual leader of Tibet, has expressed gratitude to Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other ministers for wishing him on his birthday. The Dalai Lama sent out a video message in which he expressed his gratitude to everyone who had wished him saying that Several of his friends wished him a “happy birthday’. He took this opportunity to show his ‘gratitude’ to those individuals.
After the Chinese conquest of Tibet in the 1950s, the Dalai Lama was forced to flee the country. Dalai Lama said, “They sincerely expressed their congratulations on my birthday. So I very much appreciate this friendly expression.” On Tuesday, in a departure from the past, India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi has called Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama on his 86th birthday. In a tweet from his handle, he said, “Spoke on phone to His Holiness the @DalaiLama to convey greetings on his 86th birthday” and “We wish him a long and healthy life.” While in the past Indian PM Modi has been congratulating Dalai Lama on his birthday, but never an announcement has been made, largely due to Chinese sensitivities. The announcement is seen as a message to Beijing even as China continues with provocative behavior at the Line of actual control in Ladakh.
Other political leaders in India have also wished Dalai Lama on his birthday. These are Chief Minister of Arunachal Pradesh, Pema Khandu, Chief Minister of Delhi Arvind Kejriwal, from the Indian Cabinet– Road transport minister Nitin Gadkari, Aviation minister Hardeep Singh Puri.
