RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat meets the Dalai Lama

The RSS chief is on a five-day tour to Kangra

His Holiness the Dalai Lama interacting with RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat at his residence in Mcleodganj on Monday. Tribune photo

Tribune News Service
Dharamsala, December 20

Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) chief Mohan Bhagwat on Monday met the Dalai Lama at Gaden Phodrang, his residence at Mcleodganj.

The RSS chief yesterday attended a seminar at Kangra with 60 intellectuals, including Sikyong Penpa Tsering and Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel.

The RSS chief, who is on a five-day tour to Kangra, during his meeting with the Dalai Lama was accompanied by Indresh Kumar, senior leader of the RSS.

After meeting the Dalai Lama, the visiting RSS leaders were met by Sikyong Penpa Tsering, Kalons of the 16th Kashag (Cabinet of Tibetan government in exile) and Speaker Khenpo Sonam Tenphel.

During their meeting with the RSS leaders, the Tibetan leaders expressed the Tibetan people’s gratitude to the government and people of India for their hospitality and support to the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan people.

Speaking to reporters following the meeting, Sikyong said: “It’s very natural that when Mohan Bhagwat is in Dharamsala, he should meet the Dalai Lama. And from the part of His Holiness the Dalia Lama, it’s also natural that he meets a prominent leader representing a large number of the Indian population.”

“RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat’s visit came after the Dalai Lama started granting in-person meetings since December 15, the first of which was offered to Sikyong, making this The Dalai Lama’s second in-person meeting after the emergence of the ongoing pandemic,” Sikyong added.

Although the conversation between the Dalai Lama and the RSS delegates is not disclosed, Sikyong Penpa Tsering assumed the talk could be about the general issues saying, “They must have talked about the larger interest of humanity on major issues.”

Indresh Kumar, while talking to media persons, said the Dalai Lama told them that India is the model of religious harmony and that India should make it known to the world. He added that RSS chief Mohan Bhagwat also expressed India’s solemn support to Tibet.