Desmond Tutu meets Dalai Lama

Lalit Mohan

Tribune News Service

Dharamsala, April 18

Archbishop Desmond Tutu, Nobel Laureate from South Africa, arrived in Dharamsala this afternoon in a chartered plane. He was received at the Gaggal airport by the Dalai Lama. 

Talking to mediapersons at the Gaggal airport, Desmond Tutu said he was thrilled at arriving in India and visiting the Dalai Lama. “I do not know why the South African government is denying visa to the Dalai Lama,” he said.

“I invited the Dalai Lama to be part of my birthday celebrations in South Africa. However, I was surprised to know that he had been denied visa by the government. I talked to the Dalai Lama on the phone and enquired how many divisions of the army he had because of which the Chinese government was afraid of him,” Desmond Tutu exclaimed.

He further said he did not know why people wanted to keep him away from the Dalai Lama. “I and the Dalai Lama have respect and love for each other,” he said.

The Dalai Lama said he was happy to have his friend with him in Dharamsala and had come to the airport just to receive him.

Desmond Tutu had invited the Dalai Lama to South Africa on his birthday about two years ago. However, the South African government refused to give visa to the Dalai Lama, allegedly pressure from the Chinese government. After denial of visa, the Dalai Lama wished the Archbishop on the internet.

The Dalai Lama was denied visa by the South African government again when he was invited to attend a meet of Nobel Peace laureates. The meet was cancelled after protest from certain laureates. However, the controversy has not deterred the friendship between the Dalai Lama and Desmond Tutu.