India News | PM's Birthday Greetings to Dalai Lama Should Be Seen in Overall Context: MEA

New Delhi, Jul 7 (PTI) India on Thursday said it has a consistent policy to treat Tibetan spiritual leader Dalai Lama as an honoured guest and Prime Minister Narendra Modi's birthday greetings to him should be seen from the overall context.

The comments by External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi came when asked about China's reaction to Modi's phone conversation with the Dalai Lama.

Also Read | British Education System Meant to Create ‘Servant Class’ in India, Changes Still Needed, Says PM Narendra Modi.

In the phone conversation, Modi extended birthday greetings to the Dalai Lama on Wednesday.

"The prime minister did speak to the Dalai Lama last year also. It has been a consistent policy of the government to treat the Dalai Lama as an honoured guest in India," Bagchi said.

Also Read | Boris Johnson Resigns: Opposition Parties Welcome British PM's Resignation As Conservative Party Leader.

He said the Dalai Lama's birthday is celebrated in India and abroad by his followers.

"Birthday greetings by the prime minister to the Dalai Lama should be seen in the overall context," Bagchi said.

(The above story is verified and authored by Press Trust of India (PTI) staff. PTI, India’s premier news agency, employs more than 400 journalists and 500 stringers to cover almost every district and small town in India.. The views appearing in the above post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY)