The Dalai Lama is meeting Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh on July 3, 2004 in New Delhi, their first since Singh took over the government. The Dalai Lama has been meeting successive Indian leaders ever since he fled to India in 1959.
Kasur Tashi Wangdi, head of the Bureau of H.H. the Dalai Lama in New Delhi, told the Voice of Tibet radio on July 1, 2004 that this will be a courtesy call. The Dalai Lama left Dharamsala on July 1 for New Delhi on his way to Spain where he is participating in a series of programs.
While felicitating Singh on his assumption of the premiership, the Kashag of the Tibetan Government-in-Exile recalled the positive attitude by all Indian leaders and government towards the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan people. Kalon Thupten Lungrik, writing on behalf of the Kashag, said in his letter of felicitation on May 22, 2004, “Ever since your country’s first Prime Minister Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru extended his government’s assistance to His Holiness the Dalai Lama and the Tibetan people we have seen various political parties come to power at the centre. And all governments so far have been kind enough to us in providing us shelter, land and livelihood as any other citizen of this country.”