Dalai Lama in Sapphire Valley; calls for unity and brotherhood

Omar welcomes spiritual leader
SHEIKH NASIR
Paddar (Kishtwar): Tibetan spiritual leader, in exile, has asked people of Jammu and Kashmir to continue with their rich multi-cultural heritage and maintain religious harmony and tranquility at all costs.
The Buddhists spiritual leader, who arrived on two-days to the Sapphire Valley of mountainous Kishtwar district visit amid tight security arrangements, was received by chief minister Omar Abdullah along with his three cabinet colleagues.
Addressing a public gathering, Dalai Dalai Lama appealed the world leaders to come forward and make the 21st Century violence-free.
Admiring the social fabric in India - where people following different faiths live together peacefully – he said that the peace is one of the highest virtues and this should lead to the unity of hearts among peoples of all faiths.
He appealed the people to continue with their rich multi-cultural heritage and maintain religious harmony and tranquility at all costs.
Later in his address, the chief minister Omar Abdullah said that the state of Jammu and Kashmir symbolizes the communal harmony, brotherhood and secular democratic temperament.
"The people of the State have lived in an atmosphere of amity since ages respecting each others faiths and cultural diversity", he said.
Welcoming Dalai Lama on his visit to Paddar, Abdullah called for preserving and conserving the State’s this rich ethos and heritage.
Described Dalai Lama the Shanti Doot, Mr. Omar said that peace and détente are the subjects of global significance in present day world scenario and every human being is equally important stake holder in global peace and tranquility.
"My father had promised to arrange visit of Dalai Lama to this place and today I am happy that I have fulfilled that promise", he said.
This was the first visit of the Dalai Lama to the Jammu region of the state, though he is a regular visitor to the Buddhist-dominated Ladakh region.

Friendship with three Abdullah generations
Paddar: The Budhist Spritual leader Dalai Lama on Saturday said that he was fortunate to have friendship with three generations of Abdullah family.
Dala Lama, who gave his speech in Tibetan language, used English to express his gratitude to the chief minister Omar Abdullah.
"I am fortunate that I have deep friendship with the three generations of your family", he said while pointing towards Omar. "Your grandfather (Sheikh Muhammad Abdullah) was a good friend of mine and I used to meet him", he said adding, "Your father Dr Farooq Abdullah is also a friend of mine and now you Omar Abdullah".