Nirupama Rao to meet Dalai Lama in Mcleodganj

DHARAMSALA - Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao is arriving at McLeodganj near here, the headquarters of the Tibetan government-in-exile, Saturday and is slated to meet the Dalai Lama, an official said.

“Nirupama Rao is reaching McLeodganj at around 1.30 p.m. for a two-day visit,” Superintendent of Police Atul Fulzele told IANS.

The foreign secretary is a former Indian ambassador to China.

Officials of the external affairs ministry at McLeodganj said the foreign secretary has no other programme except meeting the Dalai Lama and officials and functionaries of the Tibetan government-in-exile.

“A meeting between the Dalai Lama and Rao has been scheduled at his official palace post-lunch, where other high-ranking officials of his administration would also be present,” a ministry official said.

However, the Dalai Lama’s office did not comment on Rao’s visit.

Tenzin Taklha, joint secretary at the Dalai Lama’s office, said: “Right now we are not making any comments.”

The exiles are hosting a dinner in her honour Saturday.

A source in the Dalai Lama’s office said the foreign secretary would discuss issues relating to Tibetan exiles with the Nobel Laureate.

Security for the Dalai Lama, who has lived in India since fleeing his homeland in 1959, would also be discussed, the source said.

Fulzele said the Tibetan government has made arrangements for her stay at McLeodganj. She would leave for Delhi Sunday afternoon.

Rao’s visit to this picturesque hill station has been cancelled a number of times earlier.

Deputy Commissioner (Kangra) R.S. Gupta told IANS: “Her visits have been cancelled three to four times earlier.”

The Himachal Pradesh government has declared Rao a state guest.

The Dalai Lama, who believes in the “middle-path” policy that demands “greater autonomy” for the Tibetans, is viewed by the Chinese as a hostile element who is bent on splitting Tibet from China.

The Chinese government has stepped up pressure on foreign governments that receive visits from the spiritual leader.

The Dalai Lama’s government-in-exile is not recognised by any country.

Some 140,000 Tibetans now live in exile, over 100,000 of them in different parts of India. Over six million Tibetans live in Tibet.