Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama will pay a five-day visit to Sikkim from October 10-14.
Sikkim’s Chief Minister Prem Singh Tamang made the announcement about Dalai Lama’s visit to the state.
The CM made the announcement at a meeting, reported PTI.
"His Holiness, the Dalai Lama, will be coming to Sikkim on October 10 and return on October 14, " he was quoted as having said at a meeting with senior officials in the state capital on Wednesday to discuss the proposed visit of the Tibetan spiritual leader.
Why is Dalai Lama's visit significant?
Dalai Lama’s visit to the northeastern state is significant considering reports of frequent failed incursions by Chinese PLA troopers along the Line of Actual Control(LAC) in the region.
In January 2021, Indian and Chinese troops clashed on the LAC’s Naku La in northern Sikkim
It was after patrolling units from the two sides came face-to-face in the Naku La sector, which resulted in a physical brawl, without the use of weapons.
The Indian Army had thwarted PLA’s intrusion attempt in Sikkim then. There were reports of some soldiers getting injured on both sides.
Besides, in June this year Dalai Lama said that he is open for talks with China over the problems of Tibetans.
He made the statement that the Chinese "officially or unofficially" wanted to contact him.
Dalai Lama's stand on China:
Earlier, he espoused of Tibetan independence from China.
Meanwhile, the state has geared up for the Dalai Lama’s visit.
Sikkim CM Tamang said: "Ever since we formed the government in 2019, it has been our continued effort to extend an invitation to His Holiness to visit Sikkim and seek
His blessings. Finally, our effort is seeing fruition this year. So we should leave no stone unturned in making the visit a historic and memorable one.”
The Tibetan spiritual leader has last visited Sikkim in 2010.
