Dialogue only way to resolve issues, says Dalai Lama

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Shujaat Bukhari | The Hindu

Srinagar, India-- The Dalai Lama on Wednesday said dialogue was the only way to resolve any issue. He said Jammu and Kashmir enjoyed rule of law, open society and freedom of speech. Chinese incursions, he said, were of a routine nature.

Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama, center, gestures as he arrives at a Buddhist heritage site in village Ambaran in Akhnoor, Jammu-Kashmir state, India, Wednesday, Nov. 16, 2011.Recent excavations by the Archaeological Survey of India indicate that a Buddhist monastery was active for about 900 years between the second century BC and seventh century AD at Ambaran. (AP Photo/Channi Anand)

The Tibetan religious leader, who arrived in Jammu, was talking to journalists on the sidelines of a function.

“Despite some negative things here and there, rule of law is in place with open society and freedom of speech [in J&K]. Every issue could be settled through dialogue. I think through talks understanding and relations will improve.”

Lauding India for spreading the message of peace, the Dalai Lama said its “message from hundreds of years has beenAhimsa,which means non-violence. This is something very relevant today and there is hope that the message of non-violence will help in promotion of unity and harmony among the people of the world.”

On Chinese incursions, he said Beijing did not accept the border as it was with J&K or Arunachal Pradesh. “Incursion are routine.” The Dalai Lama parried a question on a “softening of stand” by India over Tibet. “I am retired. There is an elected political leadership. You better ask this question to them.”

Earlier, the Dalai Lama was received at the airport by Chief Minister Omar Abdullah, some of his Cabinet colleagues and senior police and civil officers, besides representatives from the Jammu Chamber of Commerce.